Minister of Trade and Industry, Endrit Shala, in an address to the media, said that today’s decision on the 100 per cent measure to products from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina has been rendered in the course of empowering Kosovo’s producers and empowering the economy.
“In the course of our efforts to empower local producers to strengthen our economy and citizenship, today, with the proposal of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Government decided to increase the import tax to 100% on products from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. I urge you all, dear citizens of our country, producers, traders, to join our cause, for the development of the country, for the increase of employment and well-being of our citizens”, said Minister Shala.
Similarly, the minister has requested from the producers to focus on quality increase, urging for market research and finding alternatives.
“Dear producers, I urge you to focus on quality. The products must reach the highest quality standards so that the customer/citizen of the Republic of Kosovo should have no doubts while selecting their daily consumption. Dear traders, let's get together and make creative solutions. Let's research the market together and find other countries to cooperate. The increase in export of the products and non-material goods should become a priority”, highlighted Minister Shala.
The minister said that Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina are blocking Kosovo in all respects, denying the existence of the Republic of Kosovo.
“As you know, Kosovo producers face different barriers in Serbia, their products cannot enter the Serbian market. As per the trade barriers with Bosnia, they are the same, just like those with Serbia. The Ministry that I lead, supported by the Government of Kosovo as well, will focus on increasing the well-being of its citizens, by creating the most favourable conditions for local producers and traders. Therefore, we hope for your cooperation and understanding on our journey to empower Kosovo, its producer and its market”, emphasized Minister Shala.