Bulgarian Minister of Agriculture and Food Dr. Miroslav Naydenov and Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade and Industry Mimoza Kusari-Lila, who is on a visit to Bulgaria, have discussed an opportunities for Bulgaria to export EUR 300 million food products to Kosovo. Kosovo needs a supply of food and agricultural food products from Bulgaria to fill the potential lack in the market, which emerged after the imposition reciprocal measures, affecting the county’s trade with Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In July 2011 the Government of Kosovo has taken reciprocity measures to Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, after two years of embargo by the two counties to the Republic of Kosovo regards to the trade. So far Kosovo has received food products from Serbia amounted to over USD 400 million, as 80% of them are foods, and the rest goes for construction materials. At the moment is looking for opportunities to boost trade with neighboring countries, said Mrs. Kusari-Lila. She said that Kosovo needs grain, cooking oil, flour, bread and diary products, biscuits and etc. She added that the current prices of these products are acceptable to Kosovo.
Bulgaria is able to export wheat, as the country produces over 4 million tones and the needs of domestic market are over 1, 5 million tons, said Minister Naydenov. Furthermore we are able to export sunflower oil, dairy and meat products. The Minister stressed that over 700 Bulgarian companies are already presented on the market in Kosovo and our county is interested in deepening this cooperation. He pointed out that the advantage of the trade is the neat distance between the two countries.
The two Ministers negotiated to remove all administrative obstacles to trade. It is prepared and agreement on mutual protection of investments, which is expected to be signed in autumn. Bulgarian business delegation from agricultural sector will visit Republic of Kosovo next week.
In July 2011 the Government of Kosovo has taken reciprocity measures to Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, after two years of embargo by the two counties to the Republic of Kosovo regards to the trade. So far Kosovo has received food products from Serbia amounted to over USD 400 million, as 80% of them are foods, and the rest goes for construction materials. At the moment is looking for opportunities to boost trade with neighboring countries, said Mrs. Kusari-Lila. She said that Kosovo needs grain, cooking oil, flour, bread and diary products, biscuits and etc. She added that the current prices of these products are acceptable to Kosovo.
Bulgaria is able to export wheat, as the country produces over 4 million tones and the needs of domestic market are over 1, 5 million tons, said Minister Naydenov. Furthermore we are able to export sunflower oil, dairy and meat products. The Minister stressed that over 700 Bulgarian companies are already presented on the market in Kosovo and our county is interested in deepening this cooperation. He pointed out that the advantage of the trade is the neat distance between the two countries.
The two Ministers negotiated to remove all administrative obstacles to trade. It is prepared and agreement on mutual protection of investments, which is expected to be signed in autumn. Bulgarian business delegation from agricultural sector will visit Republic of Kosovo next week.