Kosovo and North Macedonia have increased trade turnover in the last five years, mainly the level of import of goods from Macedonia to our country. However, there are still challenges faced by Kosovar businesses from the official side at the North Macedonian Customs, KosovaPress reports.

The President of the Chamber of Commerce of Kosovo, Lulëzim Rafuna, told KosovaPress that North Macedonia is the second country for export and import of goods. Rafuna emphasized that in addition to trade exchanges, it is important for Kosovo to have good relations in terms of joint investments.  

However, Rafuna also mentioned the challenges faced by businesses from the official side of North Macedonia.

"North Macedonia is in the second place during the last year for import and export. For us, it is important to have good relations for investments between the two countries, Kosovo and North Macedonia. However, we also have challenges to export goods to North Macedonia with the long controls from their customs. Requirements for testing in laboratories last for weeks, which raises the costs of Kosovo producers to export to Macedonia. Therefore, we should have fewer bureaucratic procedures and fewer 'papers' to trade and co-invest, which is in the interest of both sides of the business", Rafuna emphasizes in a written response to KosovaPress.

During 2023, trade exchanges between Kosovo and North Macedonia have reached around 430 million euros. Kosovo companies exported goods and services to this country over 120.5 million euros, while Kosovo imported from Macedonia about 309 million euros.

During the year 2022, according to the Kosovo Customs, Kosovo exported 117 million euros of goods to North Macedonia, while it imported 281.2 million euros. Whereas, during 2019, trade exchanges were 284 million euros. The export from Kosovo to North Macedonia in 2019 was 44 million euros, while the import from this country was 240 million euros.

At the intergovernmental meeting between Kosovo and North Macedonia, the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, spoke about the good relations between Kosovo and North Macedonia, which he said are reflected in the "continuous increase in trade". According to him, this has reached 432 million euros in 2023.

The chief executive has called this increase "extraordinary of 52 percent, compared to 2019".

Kurti said that there was an increase in exports from Kosovo to MV - from 48 million euros in 2019 to 121 million in 2023.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski, during his speech at the joint meeting with the Government of Kosovo, has announced that the economic cooperation between the two countries will be over half a billion euros.

The governments of Kosovo and North Macedonia in a ceremony today in Pristina have signed a protocol for the implementation of the agreement on the movement of citizens at two border points, but also the memorandum of understanding on energy and the memorandum on education.

Initially, the Minister of Internal Affairs in the Government of Kosovo, Xhelal Sveçla and the one from North Macedonia, Pançe Toshkovski, signed the protocol for the implementation of the agreement for the crossing of the common border crossing points Hani i Elezit-Bllacë and Jazhincë-Glloboqicë.

Then a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Mineral Resources of North Macedonia in the energy sector.

Also, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Ministry of Education, Technology and Innovation and the Ministry of Education and Science of North Macedonia, which is focused on professional training.

https://kosovapress.com/kurti-thote-se-rritja-e-eksportit-nga-kosova-ne-mv-eshte-rritur-ne-121-milione-euro

https://kosovapress.com/mbledhjet-e-dy-qeverive-mickoski-bashkepunimi-ekonomik-do-te-jete-mbi-gjysme-miliard-euro

https://kosovapress.com/ja-cka-u-nenshkrua-sot-ne-mes-qeverise-se-kosoves-dhe-asaj-te-maqedonise-se-veriut