Shahini: Integration into the European market could increase Kosovo's GDP by more than 15 percent

Agim Shahini, president of the Kosovo Business Alliance, told Kosovo Online that economic integration with the European Union could advance even before possible full membership, and that Kosovo's gross domestic product (GDP) could increase by more than 15 percent.

“Of course it can. It can happen immediately. We have several funds, such as the Growth Fund and the Western Balkans Growth Plan. This is already part of the preparations, because we do not know when we will become a member, while trade in goods must continue to move forward. Business cannot tolerate political or economic barriers, which is why our politicians need to understand that the European Union is a path to integration not only as a country, but also as an economy, and represents a new opportunity to export goods,” Shahini said.

According to him, the Kosovo government should draft laws in line with European integration and remove all existing barriers with Balkan and European countries.

“We can increase our gross domestic product by more than 15 percent if we integrate into the European market,” the president of the Kosovo Business Alliance said.

He stressed that all Western Balkan countries should view the European Union as a new opportunity because it gives them access to more than 550 million consumers.

Shahini sees transport permits and obtaining certificates from the Food Control Agency as obstacles to Kosovo's economy accessing the European Union market.

“Another, even bigger problem is that producers in Kosovo, and across the Balkans in general, need to understand that products intended for the European Union must be manufactured under strict controls and in accordance with European standards, because consumers and governments there do not accept just any goods that we can find in our shops here,” said Agim Shahini, president of the Kosovo Business Alliance.