The Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade (MINT) Rozeta Hajdari has stated that the Free Trade Agreement between Kosovo and the EFTA Member States is an excellent opportunity for the country's economic development and closer integration into international markets. She stressed that many local companies will benefit from this agreement, enabling manufacturers to export a range of products to the regional market without customs duties or with tariff quotas.

In a press conference, Hajdari said that Kosovo is quickly becoming a dynamic and attractive destination for investment.

"Kosovo is rapidly becoming a dynamic and attractive destination for investment. With growth opportunities in key sectors such as manufacturing, professional services, agriculture and other growing sectors. Therefore, the free trade agreement is an excellent opportunity for Kosovo's economic development and closer integration into international markets. With these negotiations, unlike the countries in the region, which have signed such an agreement long ago, the Republic of Kosovo is the only country in the region that, in addition to the chapter on trade in goods, has also negotiated the chapter on trade in services in this agreement. The Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of Kosovo and the EFTA member states includes all areas related to Trade Policy", Hajdari emphasized.

Hajdari underlined that many local companies will benefit from the signing of this agreement. He also said that this agreement will strengthen Kosovo's diplomatic and trade relations with EFTA states, increasing Kosovo's image internationally.

He emphasized that a large number of the Kosovar diaspora living in Switzerland and other EFTA countries will benefit from this agreement.

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However, according to economic experts, a challenge in this agreement remains a clause within the agreement stating that products containing animal products would have to be subject to EU rules.

One of the priorities of the agreement is to strengthen the export of Kosovo products, especially in the sectors of agriculture, processing industry and technology.

EFTA and Kosovo launched their negotiations towards a free trade agreement in June 2022. Between August 2022 and September 2024, four rounds of negotiations and several intersessional meetings were held.

EFTA is an intergovernmental organization of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. It was established in 1960 by its then seven member states to promote free trade and economic integration among its members. The four EFTA states are all open and competitive economies committed to progressive trade liberalization in the multinational arena and in free trade agreements.