Kosovo and Albania sign an annex to FTA

Tirana, 14 Jul, 2006 – Kosovo and Albania signed this week an Annex to the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between both countries. As result the tariffs of the trade exchange between Albania and Kosovo become zero.

The Kosovo delegation consisted of representatives of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Agriculture, Customs and UNMIK.

Both sides concluded that the trade exchanges and economic cooperation between Kosovo and Albania is still far from desirable. During 2005, Kosovo imported 11.3 % of goods from Albania, while it exported only 1,5%.

“Other stimulating measures are necessary to be undertaken by the two governments to support the producers and look for another policy. On the other hand, the producers should make sure it is quality products,” said the Kosovar Minister for Trade and Industry, Bujar Dugolli.

Deputy Minister of Economy of Albania, Eno Bozdo said: “We need closer cooperation between Kosovo and Albania and not only in economy.”

In meantime, economy experts in Kosovo call for more liberalisation between Kosovo and Albania. In an interview with Television of Kosovo, Safet Gerxhaliu, an economic expert, said it is time to remove the barriers and taxes that can impede the trade exchange between Kosovo and Albania.

ECIKS