Sejdarasi: Kosovo wants to increase exports to regional countries

The chief editor of economics at ABC News television in Tirana, Bardhi Sejdarasi, told Kosovo Online that he is confident the Government of Kosovo cannot reinstate restrictions on the entry of goods from Serbia. He added that Kosovo, which will chair CEFTA during 2025, will likely have its main, and perhaps sole, goal to increase economic exchange as much as possible.

“Kosovo will aim to increase the volume of its products that can be competitive and sold in the region. Kosovo has a significant problem as it exports very little to regional countries within CEFTA, while it has a large import volume. Therefore, it is obliged to stimulate domestic production growth but also not to obstruct the entry of products necessary for the domestic market,” Sejdarasi said.

Kosovo, he adds, wants to export as many goods as possible to regional countries while simultaneously seeking to minimize imports to stimulate domestic production.

“Kosovo has growing trade, especially with Albania, and imports from North Macedonia have increased. Also, the indicators for exports and imports with Serbia are very positive,” Sejdarasi noted.

He reminded that Pristina had issues with CEFTA due to unilaterally imposing strict restrictions on the entry of goods and services from Serbia. However, those restrictions were lifted last year after strong intervention by Germany.

“The situation became so dangerous that Kosovo was on the verge of being excluded from the regional free trade agreement at the last moment. This didn’t happen because Kosovo quickly decided, following Germany’s request, to suspend all restrictions it had imposed on goods coming from Serbia. I am confident that Kosovo’s institutions and government cannot reinstate restrictions following the agreement and reconciliation reached in November last year,” Sejdarasi said.