PRISTINA, Sept 29 /ATA/ As of Tuesday, September 29, the Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of Kosovo and the four member states of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) — Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein — has entered into force.
This was announced during an information session organised by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Entrepreneurship.
Mimoza Kusari Lila, head of the ministry, said the agreement would further strengthen Kosovo’s partnership with the EFTA member states.
Kusari-Lila said the agreement would strengthen Kosovo’s economic and diplomatic ties with EFTA states, open new market opportunities for businesses and improve Kosovo’s competitive position in the region.
Zef Dedaj, director of the Department of Trade, said Kosovo has maintained trade relations with all EFTA countries for years, with imports steadily increasing and contributing to technology transfer, knowledge sharing and greater diversification of goods and services.
Switzerland’s ambassador to Kosovo, Anne-Lise Cattin Hennin, described the event as highly significant, particularly as she had only recently taken up her post.
“As someone who has only recently arrived in Kosovo, I could hardly have asked for a better occasion for one of my first events. I am therefore very happy to be here; it is a real pleasure. And we are marking this important milestone in economic relations between Kosovo and the EFTA countries,” she said.
Kosovo Customs Director-General Agron Llugaliu also attended the event and illustrated the importance of the agreement by referring to trade with the United Kingdom.
“For example, trade data with the United Kingdom show continued growth. Last year, imports amounted to €26 million, while in just the first eight months of this year, they reached €22.3 million. This represents an increase of nearly threefold, which will be further supported by the free trade agreement,” he said.
