Macedonia - Kosovo flow of goods normalized

Economy Minister Valon Saraqini and Vice Premier for Economic Affairs Vladimir Pesevski paid a visit early Sunday to Blace border crossing to see first-hand if the free flow of goods, services and people between Macedonia and Kosovo has been reestablished.

Kosovo has ended the embargo for Macedonian products, prompting the removal of the entry fee for Kosovo citizens, as well as the truck blockades of "Makamtrans" at Jazince and Blace border crossings.

"I am pleased to say that misunderstandings between Kosovo and Macedonia have been overcome. This means that flow of goods, services and movement of people from both countries is ongoing without any restrictions. My top priority was finding a solution and overcoming of the situation, and this has been achieved as a result of the efforts by the countries' governments", said Minister Saraqini after the visit.

According to him, Kosovo and Macedonia are significant partners and it is in the interest of both countries to strengthen political and economic relations.

Macedonia and UNMIK-Kosovo protectorate entering into an open trade war

Brussels reacts over the Macedonian-Kosovo dispute after the newly-formed Balkan country has reached a decision to ban the import of certain products from Macedonia, MIA reports from Brussels.

On Monday, the European Commission urged the parties involved in the dispute - which is turning into an embargo for Macedonian products in Kosovo as Macedonia is introducing fees for all Kosovo citizens entering the country - to abide by the obligations stemming from the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA).

"We aim to clarify the measures reported recently and we expect the parties to abide by their obligations stemming from the Central European Free Trade Agreement," EC spokesman Peter Stano told media.

In July, Macedonia imposed a measure to limit the import of wheat and flour from all members of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA), including Kosovo, in an effort to protect domestic production.

The spokesman declined to say whether the EU would make any direct attempts in order to settle the trade dispute between Macedonia and Kosovo.

MINA's sources in Prishtina say the trade embargo in Kosovo is unfluenced by drug lord Moni Karliu who is known as a major wheat producer in NATO's protectorate.  He is also known as one of the biggest drug dealers in the Balkans and has most of Kosovo's parliament members on his payroll. Unhappy with Macedonian measure to limit wheat imports into the country, Karliu pressured the Kosovo government to impose counter measures. Similar thing happened between Kosovo and Albania few years ago.

This morning chaos on the Macedonian Kosovo border as Kosovo put the ramp on all Macedonian trucks entering the protectorate. 

The Macedonian Government is looking at imposing visas on Kosovo residents as a counter measure.

Macedonian wine to be promoted in Netherlands and Poland

Eleven Macedonian wineries from the association "Wines from Macedonia" will promote their wines in the Hague and Warsaw from October 21 to 24.

Macedonian wineries including Tikvesh, Stobi, Skovin, Dalvina, Bovin, Popov, Dudin, Kamnik, Ezimit, Popova Kula and Filovski will present wines before Dutch and Polish connoisseurs of fine wines, importers and distributors.

According to the marketing strategy for exporting wine in the EU, prepared by the wineries, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia and Switzerland have been assessed as the most perspective markets for the Macedonian wine.

Dutch Centre for Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI) support the promotions. Macedonian embassies in the two countries and Agency for Foreign Investment and Export Promotion through its economic promoters are also included in the organisation of the promotional events.

So far, Macedonian wine was presented in Helsinki, Chicago, Washington and New York. As a result of wine promotion in China, seven wineries have already signed export contract. The promotions held during this year are supported by international donors - CBI and USAID.

Macedonian wine to be exported in China

Seven Macedonian wineries from the association "Wines from Macedonia" will export wines to the Chinese market. The wineries signed a contract with the Chinese importer and distributor "Tianjin".

Nearly 456 thousand bottles are planned to be exported in the first year. The contract is valued at one and a half million euros in the first year only. The export is planned to be kicked off in coming days.

"China is a destination which is aimed by wineries to achieve good results because traditional economies have been hit by recession and have been implementing austerity measures, whereas China is registering economic growth. At the moment, China is considered as a huge market with potential and this contract probably confirms it," the acting executive director of the "Wines from Macedonia" association, Gjorgi Petrusev told a press conference on Monday.

What lingers on as a challenge for the future, Petrusev said, is to change the perception of foreign consumers that Macedonia has solid cheap wine. "The challenge to promote ourselves and prove that high quality wines are produced in Macedonia still remains," he added.

The director of the Agency for Foreign Investments and Export Promotion, Visar Fida voiced content with the agreement. "The Chinese importer was visited during the government's road show in May in China. We are pleased that already there are results," Fida said.

Thus far, Macedonian wine was promoted in New York, Chicago, Washington and Finland, while presentations are scheduled to take place in Poland and the Netherlands next month.

Macedonian exporters and Montenegrin importers of fruits and vegetables to meet

Montenegrin importers and Macedonian exporters of fresh fruits and vegetables will meet Monday in Strumica to discuss Montenegrin market demands and production and opportunities for export from Macedonia.

Epi Centre International and Macedonian Farmers’ Federation organise the meeting with support of USAID AgBiz programme and should contribute to improvement of overall presentation on Montenegrin market and creation of partnership relations between agriculture business between the two countries.

USAID AgBiz programme supports economic growth in Macedonia through activities that strengthen and improve competitiveness of Macedonian agribusiness. The aim is to increase incomes for all participants in selected agricultural value chains in Macedonia by increasing exports and enhancing the agricultural business environment.

The American people, through USAID, have invested nearly $500 million in Macedonia since 1993. USAID is implementing projects that create jobs, reduce corruption, and prepare Macedonian students for the workforce. These initiatives improve the quality of life and support Macedonia’s transition to a stable and prosperous democracy.

Macedonian fruit, vegetable processing companies in Czech Republic

Dozen Macedonian companies for fruit and vegetable processing pay January 26-28 a visit to the Czech Republic, aiming to find business partners for export of their products, MIA reports from Prague.
The visit, initiated by the Macedonian Association of Fruit and Vegetable Manufacturers (MAP), is arranged by the Macedonian Embassy to Prague.
Presentation and tasting of Macedonian products will be held in Prague, in the attendance of Czech food companies, as well as meetings with representatives of foreign and domestic supermarkets at the Czech market.
Moreover, representatives of Macedonian companies will pay a visit to the Teplice glass factory, where they would review possibilities for joint investment projects in the field of canning and packaging of Macedonian products.