The Customs Office of Kosovo Inauguration at the Port of Durres

Kosovo Customs is present at the Port of Durres, serving Kosovo's entrepreneurship by becoming a Strategic Port for the entire Albanian area.

The political will of the two countries, following the cooperation between the two Governments, Albania and Kosovo, as well as the implementation of Peja's Decisions Meeting, has already been fulfilled. This common will is embodied through a joint operational plan which is currently operational. 

The opening ceremony of this office was attended by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Fatmir Limaj, Ministers of Finances of the two countries, Arben Ahmetaj and Bedri Hamza, as well as two General Directors of Customs, Belinda Ikonomi and Bahri Berisha.

Prime Minister Edi Rama during the inauguration of this office stated that this is the first step of the complete Customs merging between the two countries.

"Kosovo Customs here in Durres is the first important step towards full Customs Union between Albania and Kosovo. The mutual recognition of Customs systems, Customs Agents, the completion of the purpose of the Customs Administration although it has two wings, it functions as a common body, but I think it is an important news for all entrepreneurship. This speeds up the movement of goods and returns the border to a formal border between Albania and Kosovo. There will be no longer long queues at Customs points. After the Customs Union we will also have the unification of the markets, "said Mr. Rama.

The Head of the Government also stopped at the fluid bourder which according to him, it will be ready in spring between Albania and Kosovo, as well as the unification of Customs procedures.

Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Fatmir Limaj considers the opening of the Customs Office as one of the most important projects after the Declaration of Independence. "This is the second most important project for Kosovo after the Declaration of Independence. This is the second completed decision, decided by the meeting of two Governments in Peja. First the one of the borders. This is an extraordinary news for Kosovo's economy. From today Kosovo has its own port", Limaj said.

For the respective Ministers of Finance of the two countries, the opening of the Customs Office will affect in the economic growth, but also in facilitating the trade procedures and commercial exchanges.

The port of Durres, now with the opening of the Kosovo Customs Office, becomes the only gateway for Kosovar entrepreneurship in the sense of Customs controls. This means that any Kosovar business is enough to be inspected, checked in the Port of Durres and to have direct access to Kosovo.

The opening of this office facilitates the trade and the rapid movement of goods. This expects to reduce the costs of businesses as well as help the growth of trade exchanges between the two countries.

According to trade statistics, the volume of imports of goods originating in Kosovo for 2018 was 194 thousand tonnes or 6% more than the previous year. While the volume of goods exported to Kosovo during 2018 was at 1,026,270 tons with a value of 27,031 million ALL or 211 million Euros. These indicators occupy a specific 26% weight on our total exports to all countries. Compared to the previous year, exports to Kosovo increased by 38 thousand/Tonnes more or 4% more compared to the previous year.