I received this joint statement of the Serbia and Kosovo Chambers of Commerce today. It is far more explicit and useful than the separate statements signed by the two governments earlier this month at the White House.
on the occasion of the signing of the Agreements on economic normalisation
in Washington, D.C.
- We, the Presidents of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia and Kosovo Chamber of Commerce, representing our business communities, are expressing our support to the improvement of economic and overall relations between the two parties, and to the Agreements signed in Washington D.C. on September 4, 2020, in particular;
- We recognize that the process of normalizing relations between the two parties is an essential prerequisite for improvement of the economic and social well-being of all citizens in the region, and will play a significant role in achieving the overall economic, social and political development of the Western Balkans;
- As the main advocates of the free trade and regional economic integration, we endorse the “Mini Schengen” initiative and acknowledge the importance of continuous advancement of regional cooperation based on four fundamental freedoms of the European Union in fostering prosperity, stability, and competitiveness in the entire Western Balkans region;
- We emphasize the necessity that all parties remain firmly committed to the Agreements and secure their implementation through a carefully designed action plan guaranteeing the success and maximizing offered opportunities;
- We are confident that engagement of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) with its partners, and its permanent presence in the region, demonstrates a strong commitment of the United States of America to contribute to the economic prospects of the entire Western Balkans region;
- Building on our successful cooperation over the past years, our two Chambers remain committed to helping in every possible way to achieve sustainable economic normalization;
- In this spirit, we propose establishing a team for economic cooperation, within our Chambers (with offices in Pristina and Belgrade),comprised of business leaders and experts dealing with economic normalization. The primary role of the team is to contribute actively to the process of economic normalization and provide assistance and guidance to all the parties involved, i.e., to respective governments, the business community, DFC, EXIM, U.S. and E.U. institutions, and all other stakeholders involved in the process;
- In order to contribute more effectively to the implementation of the projects we will establish a number of sectorial groups within the team, in which the sector-specific projects will be discussed, overseen, and developed, namely a group for infrastructure development to contribute to the infrastructural projects dealing with continuation of construction of Peace Highway, reconstruction/modernization of railway lanes and their connections to the ports in Adriatic, construction, and modernization of infrastructure for the industrial zones and providing technology for waste to energy projects, etc.; a group for sustainable energy production and diversification, dealing with energy diversification, support to opening of lithium-based batteries power plant the in region and research and exploitation of lithium and other precious oars; a group for building of a glass factory in the region and thus as enabling a supplier for the whole region and alike; a group for agro-tourism, to explore possibilities to develop sustainable tourism based on advantages local natural resources offer, i.e. Kopanik and Brezovica mountains, Rugova gorge and alike.
- We express our full confidence that implementation of the previously signed agreements:
- reestablishment of air traffic between Belgrade and Pristina;
- reconstruction and modernisation of railway infrastructure on the “eastern” route – Nis – Doljevac – Merdare – Prishtina;
- construction of “Highway of Peace” – Nis-Merdare-Pristina;
will provide both the foundation and instruments to improve the competitiveness significantly, economic cohesion, and connectivity in the entire Western Balkans region;
- We extend our readiness to proactively engage in supporting all parties in identifying projects, conducting feasibility studies, and other needed activities to enhance diversification of energy supplies and contribute to economic, social, and environmental development and benefits for the local communities.
- We commend the DFCs commitment to provide financing to a guarantee scheme for providing loans for small and medium enterprises, which will have a positive effect on our both economies, especially in coping with the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic;
- As the representatives of the business communities, we call on all interested parties to take an active part in advancing economic normalisation stipulated by the Washington and other Agreements, whose full and timely implementation would unleash and harness the creative, economic, natural, and scientific potential of the region as a whole.
Belgrade, September 22, 2020
Marko Čadež, President
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia
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Berat Rukiqi, President,
Kosovo Chamber of Commerce
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