The Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade, Rozeta Hajdari, together with her colleagues from her cabinet, hosted the Swiss Parliament delegation that has followed the talks of the Republic of Kosovo with EFTA countries, consisting of the National Council of Switzerland Member, Hans-Peter Portmann, Members of the Swiss Council of States, Benedikt Würth and Hannes Germann, Deputy Secretary of the delegation, Myriam Bertsch, as well as the Ambassador of Switzerland in Kosovo, Thomas Kolly and Deputy Ambassador Pauline Menthonnex-Gacaferri.
Kosovo and Switzerland are committed to finalize EFTA (European Free Trade Association) agreement as soon as possible, which is of great importance for Kosovo, as trade exchanges with the EFTA countries, especially Switzerland, are constantly in growth and have a significant positive trade balance. EFTA as a regional trade organization and free trade area consists of four European countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Minister Hajdari warmly welcomed the Swiss parliamentary delegation, appreciating the good and friendly relations between Kosovo and Switzerland. She informed them about the priorities of the current government "employment and justice", about the progress of our state in international reports, about the growing indicators of the rule of law and order, democracy and economic development.
The Swiss delegation was informed more broadly about industrial policies, specifically about the competitive advantages of industrial sectors, with examples of success in 'business process outsourcing', about the skills of our young people in innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as about the possibilities of intensifying economic cooperation in the fields of mutual interest between the two countries, through the signing of the EFTA agreement.
The Government of Kosovo intends to expand cooperation with EFTA countries, in areas of particular importance to expand their trade relations, such as investment flows, including knowledge and technology transfer, competition policy and law, public procurement , trade and sustainable development, and other trade-related issues and policies, including trade in goods and services, customs cooperation and intellectual property rights.
The Republic of Kosovo launched negotiations with the EFTA countries in June 2022, while the first round of negotiations ended at the end of August 2022.
