Following the construction of the Nation Road, trade and business relations between Albania and Kosovo have grown rapidly. 

For the first 5 months of 2022, trade volume with Kosovo (imports + exports) reached ALL 21.7 billion (178 million euros), marking the highest record levels ever recorded in trade relations between the two countries, according to INSTAT data , processed by Monitor. Kosovo is Albania's sixth largest trading partner, after Italy, Turkey, Germany, Greece and China, with almost 4% of the total. 

Kosovo is important for Albanian exports, ranking third, after Italy and Germany, with 7.6% of the total, while the share of imports from Kosovo occupies only 1.63% of the total for the first 5 months 2022. 

Base metals remain the most exported product, with 43% of the total, where the main role is played by the steel processing company, Kurum, which has Kosovo as one of the main markets in the region. In second place are mineral products, including oil, with 17% of the total (see graph: Exports to Kosovo, by chapters, 5 M I). 

Even from Kosovo, the products that are mostly imported in Albania are metals, with 33% of the total, followed by minerals, with 32%. Although Albania has a higher share of agriculture and economy (about 20% almost twice as much as Kosovo), imports of "Prepared food, alcoholic beverages, tobacco" for the 5 months were slightly higher than exports of the same chapter towards Kosovo. 

The year 2017 marked the highest number of businesses from Kosovo to Albania, with 478, according to INSTAT data. In subsequent years, their numbers declined, reaching a minimum in 2020, which coincides with the pandemic period. In 2021, their number increased again, reaching 469, or 7% of the total foreign and joint ventures in the country, but without reaching the record of 2017 (see graph: No. of enterprises, foreign and common from Kosovo in total). 

INSTAT data show that enterprises from Kosovo are generally small. Only 7 of them had more than 50 employees at the end of 2021, while the other 377 have 1 to 4 employees and are mainly in the field of services. 

The year 2021 marked 41 million euros of foreign investments originating from Kosovo, according to data from the Bank of Albania. This is the highest level of investment from Kosovo ever recorded in the country (see chart: Annual flow of foreign investment from Kosovo to Albania). However, in relation to other countries, investments from Kosovo accounted for only 4% of the total in 2021. The Government of Kosovo together with that of Albania will hold a joint meeting on Monday. According to the agenda, several agreements are expected to be signed at this meeting.

(Source: Monitor)