Kadriaj: Open Balkan brings benefits for business, barriers do no good to anyone

An economic expert from Pristina, Mustafa Kadriaj, says for Kosovo Online that he has always been in favor of the Open Balkan initiative because, according to him, economic cooperation should be separated from political issues, and this initiative brings benefits for all economies and the overall business in the region.

Leaders from the region gathered in Skopje on Monday regarding the EU Plan for the Growth of the Western Balkans, worth six billion euros. It was planned that, within the Open Balkan initiative, protocols on free access to labor markets would be signed between the members of Serbia, North Macedonia, and Albania. However, this event has been postponed, as stated by the government in Skopje, until all technical conditions for the implementation of agreed measures are met, which, it is emphasized, are "fully harmonized."

Kadriaj notes that it is good for the Western Balkan governments to give businesspeople the opportunity to communicate.

"I have always been in favor of the Open Balkan because, despite political problems, the economic side is something else. Since it will be a facilitation for business, for the economies of all Balkan countries, there is no problem if representatives of Western Balkan governments meet and give the business community a chance to communicate. Free cooperation between companies and the economy removes political barriers in the future. I am always in favor of meetings and for governments to give space and opportunities for businesses to communicate because there is no other way and no alternative to cooperation in the Western Balkans. This is also the path that leads to the EU. Barriers do not bring good to anyone, neither to Kosovo nor to Serbia or any other country in the region," Kadriaj says.