Kosovo Customs has introduced new facilitation measures for the business community, marking an important step in reforming customs procedures.

At a joint meeting with economic chambers, the Minister of Finance, Hekuran Murati, and the Director General of Customs, Agron Llugaliu, presented innovations aimed at speeding up the circulation of goods and reducing costs for businesses.

According to a statement from Kosovo Customs, one of the main innovations is the introduction of the “pre-arrival declaration” system, which allows shipments to be processed up to one month before their arrival.

This system is expected to reduce waiting times and, in certain cases, allow goods to be sent directly to company warehouses without stopping at terminals, for businesses with a good compliance record.

Minister Murati emphasized that the reforms undertaken, including the transfer of terminals to state ownership, aim to facilitate trade and reduce the burden on businesses. He added that the government will continue advancing these facilitation measures in cooperation with the business community.

Meanwhile, Customs Director Agron Llugaliu stated that, according to measurements by the CEFTA Secretariat, Kosovo ranks first in the region for customs efficiency.

The average customs clearance time is 54 minutes, compared to the regional average of 91 minutes.

The meeting was also attended by the Director of the Food and Veterinary Agency (FVA), Bekim Hoxha, who highlighted cooperation with Customs to harmonize procedures so that businesses can benefit from the new facilitation measures.

According to the statement, other achievements include the continued digitalization of services and an increase in self-declarations by businesses, which have reached 97.6% of revenues from voluntary declarations.

Additionally, ongoing operational savings were mentioned, which are expected to exceed €20 million this year.