Strengthening inter-institutional cooperation and increasing agricultural production in both countries were the main focus of today’s meeting between Kosovo’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, Armend Muja, and his counterpart from Albania, Andis Salla.
At a press conference, Muja said that the main topic of the meeting was food production, noting that both countries are food importers and that there is a shared need to coordinate steps toward developing more agricultural products.
“We also discussed issues of complementarity and what can be coordinated in agricultural production steps, whether in Albania or Kosovo, and we agreed to continue discussions in this regard. We discussed the important need to promote European Union standards in food safety, and we also discussed the possibilities and steps we need to take to simplify and reduce any barriers that may hinder contacts between our businesses,” he said.
He added that these efforts aim to reach the final destination, which is the European Union, and to adopt criteria and standards as early as possible.
On the other hand, Minister Salla emphasized that an agreement has been reached on better policy coordination and the organization of joint roundtables with businesses and relevant stakeholders, aiming to increase trade exchanges and ensure sustainable sector development.
“But also what is more important is the coordination of joint work and joint development between the two countries. It should be emphasized that today is a day when, in addition to what we have agreed on, we will continue to better coordinate the work, including what we agreed on regarding the agreements that we will make between the two countries in Tirana. This is important because, although there are no longer customs barriers between our countries, there is coordination between our institutions, such as the Food and Veterinary Agency, trade development, and further steps we need to take regarding food safety between the two countries and increased trade exchanges. Also, coordination in tourism and the timely promotion of tourism between the two countries is important. I am pleased that our two countries are no longer only cooperating institutionally, but also through joint work that will be coordinated between institutions and ministries of agriculture,” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister Muja of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development met with his counterpart from Albania, Andis Salla. The meeting included discussions between the two ministers’ cabinets as well as between the delegations.
