The governments of Kosovo and North Macedonia held a joint meeting yesterday. Prime Minister Albin Kurti also mentioned trade exchanges, stating that the continuous growth of trade is a reflection of the good relations between the two countries.
Kurti said that trade with North Macedonia has experienced extraordinary growth of 52 percent, comparing the figures from 2019 with those of last year.
He emphasized the growth of imports, which he said increased by 175 percent.
“The good relations between our two countries are also reflected in the continuous growth of trade, which reached over 432 million euros in 2023, an extraordinary increase of 52 percent compared to 2019, when it was at 284 million euros. Trade exchange has also increased, in terms of exports from Kosovo to North Macedonia, from 44 million in the pre-pandemic year of 2019, to 121 million in the past year, 2023, an increase of 175 percent,” said Kurti during the joint meeting.
But, how much did Kosovo export and import with North Macedonia?
Based on data from the Kosovo Agency of Statistics, North Macedonia ranks among the main partners for export and import from CEFTA countries.
For 2023, Kosovo’s exports to North Macedonia were 14.1 percent of the total value of 343.6 million euros for exports to CEFTA countries. Meanwhile, imports accounted for 5.3 percent of the total value of 926.6 million euros.
In 2022, Kosovo’s exports with CEFTA countries reached 333.6 million euros, of which 12.2 percent were with North Macedonia.
Imports, from a total of 1 billion euros, were 5.0 percent from North Macedonia.
In 2021, exports with CEFTA countries were 278.4 million euros, with 11.5 percent being with North Macedonia.
Meanwhile, the value of imports with these countries was 892.5 million euros, with 5.2 percent from North Macedonia.
In 2020, North Macedonia accounted for 9.3 percent of the total value of 210 million euros in exports with CEFTA countries, while in imports it accounted for 5.7 percent of the total value of 615.3 million euros.
