Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti described today’s signing of the Free Trade Agreement between Kosovo and the member states of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) as a milestone in improving economic relations and trade cooperation with EFTA member states.
He expressed deep gratitude to all EFTA members for their close cooperation during the negotiation process.
“The agreement we are signing today establishes a framework for trade relations between Kosovo and the EFTA countries and opens up new opportunities, allowing Kosovo access to their markets,” Kurti said.
He added that the agreement brings significant advantages for Kosovo companies, which will now have the opportunity to export to wider markets, thus further integrating them into the European economic system.
He believes that this agreement also reflects Kosovo’s commitment to democratic principles, the rule of law, human rights, environmental protection, responsible corporate governance and sustainable development.
Kurti added that Kosovo “has made impressive progress in the last four years with constant economic growth.”
Kosovo’s Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade, Rozeta Hajdari, has called on international investors to explore opportunities for cooperation with Kosovo.
“Since June 2022, we have come a long way in negotiations, which resulted in this important agreement. It strengthens our relations, starting from trade in goods and services, to competition and sustainable development,” Hajdari said.
She stated that “Kosovo is becoming an attractive destination for foreign investments, especially in the field of information technology and service provision”.
EFTA is an intergovernmental organization created to promote free trade and economic integration among its member states.
It was founded in 1960 as an alternative to the European Union (then the European Economic Community). Currently, EFTA has four member states – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Photo: EFTA
