The Port of Durres has started the customs clearance of goods destined for Kosovo. The customs clearance of goods in the ports of Durrës enables the economy of Kosovo to practically have access to the sea, thus facilitating the penetration of local businesses in international markets.

The Minister of Finance and Economy Delina Ibrahimaj and her Kosovo counterpart Hekuran Murati, accompanied by the customs directors of both countries, visited the Kosovo Customs offices in the port of Durrës on Tuesday.

The visit was made on the occasion of the beginning of full customs clearance at the ports of Durrës for goods destined for the Republic of Kosovo.

During her speech during the visit, Minister Ibrahimaj considered this as a procedure that facilitates business and reduces bureaucracy.

She noted that since the first customs clearance of goods began, about 70% of the declarations have been processed at the Kosovo Customs office, which indicates the interest of business to carry out the procedures customs clearance at the port of Durrës.

"Today is an important day when it finally becomes operational and works for all customs clearance businesses in the port of Durrës. There are about 1,040 Kosovo companies that use the port of Durrës,” said Minister Ibrahimaj.

For his part, the Minister of Finance, Labor and Transfers of Kosovo, Hekuran Murati, said that the opening of the Kosovo Customs Office in the port of Durrës is an extraordinary achievement for the economy of Kosovo, it saves time and costs for business and saves about Euro 2 million to businesses that trade through the port of Durrës.

Murati said that this gives Kosovo access to the sea and facilitates access to global markets for export, which is in a trend of continuous growth.

On the other hand, Minister Ibrahimaj said that the customs clearance of goods destined for Kosovo at the port of Durrës is just the next step in our commercial relations, emphasizing once again the commitment of the Albanian government to the deepening of interstate cooperation.

The Customs office of Kosovo has been located in the port of Durres since 2019, but until now only the registration of entries has been made for the goods destined for the Republic of Kosovo, without having any impact on reducing the cost or time for businesses and consumers.

In the last meeting between the two Governments, held in June of this year, the agreement was signed to analyze the possible customs union, which marks the commercial integration between the two economies.