Minister of Trade and Industry, Endrit Shala, hosted in a meeting the World Bank Manager for Competitiveness and Innovation, Mario Gudamillas and the World Bank Country Manager for Kosovo, Marco Mantovanelli, on the occasion of commencing the implementation of the CERP (increase of Competitiveness and Export Readiness of SMEs) Project funded by the World Bank in the Republic of Kosovo.
Minister Shala emphasized that the components and activities of this project will focus specifically on the areas in which business environment in Kosovo needs to be improved and advanced.
“The CERP project, funded by the World Bank for the next five years, will be seen as a real opportunity and a way to fulfil MTI's development goals and objectives, to support the private sector, as well as to achieve development objectives of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo and improve the environment of doing business in particular. The components and activities of this project will mainly focus on these areas, namely the areas where the business environment in Kosovo needs improvement and advancement:
- Increase of Competitiveness and Export Readiness of Small and Medium-Sized enterprises (SMEs),
- Improvement and advancement of the national quality infrastructure system, and
- Reforming of the inspection system”, stressed Mr Shala.
The Minister announced that the World Bank project will increase the competitive and export readiness of local companies in both regional and European Union markets.
“In order to support SMEs with export potential, the MTI foresees, through this project, the implementation of a compatible grant scheme by supporting SMEs in the certification of their products and services, meeting their needs in the implementation of international standards, delivery of consultancy services, market research, development of marketing strategies, etc. In this way, SMEs in our country will increase their competitiveness and export readiness in the regional and European Union market”.
Minister Shala said that exporting SMEs cannot currently use test reports from internal laboratories or certificates from internal certifying bodies when they export their products.
“Since the accreditation of these laboratories and certification bodies has not been recognized internationally, MTI intends, through the Metrology Agency and the Accreditation Agency, to provide international recognition and to enable the products of each accredited organization in Kosovo (thus, all National Quality Infrastructure institutions in Kosovo) to be recognized by potential local and international trading partners”.
According to Minister Shala, reforming the system of inspections is also an important component of this project.
“MTI is committed and willing to work towards reducing and eliminating administrative barriers for businesses by improving services and efficiency when conducting inspections. The Government is also working on the establishment of legal infrastructure, namely the comprehensive Law on Inspectorates, thus providing conditions and opportunities for the successful implementation of this reform”, said the Minister.
The Minister of Trade and Industry reaffirmed once again the commitment, willingness and readiness to implement this project, being aware and believing that this project and this support from the World Bank will have a direct impact on the improvement and further advancement of the business environment in the Republic of Kosovo.
