Albanian 
Prishtina, March 5, 2019 – The need for a unique identification number for manufacturing entities, equal treatment of companies applying for customs exemptions for raw materials, and incorporation of supporting elements in empowering the manufacturing sector through provisions of the Law on Internal Trade which is in the drafting process, were some of the requests of the Manufacturing Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo in the meeting with the Minister of Trade and Industry, Endrit Shala.
AmCham Executive Director, Arian Zeka, while thanking Minister Shala for his availability, he said that the manufacturing sector faces various problems, which include delays in payments up to customs exemptions for raw materials. Amongst others, Zeka also informed Minister Shala about the request of the Manufacturing Committee for manufacturers to be identified with a unique number of identification.
Chairman of AmCham Manufacturing Committee, Kujtim Gjevori, informed Minister Shala about the meetings the Manufacturing Committee has held in addressing issues that affect this sector, emphasizing the need for manufacturing entities to be identified with a unique number in order to avoid future problems that could arise with the growth of the sector.
Minister of Trade and Industry, Endrit Shala, said that his main goal during his mandate remains the empowerment of the manufacturing sector, therefore creating policies that facilitate businesses’ operations in this sector will be amongst the priorities of the institution’s agenda. Thus, Minister Shala pledged that the Ministry of Trade and Industry will undertake initiatives in institutional coordination in order to set the criteria on identifying manufacturing entities with a unique identification number, while inviting the business community to be part of the drafting process of the Law on Internal Trade since this will be a guide for doing business in the country.
Business representatives in the meeting had the chance to discuss on delays in payments, an issue which should be addressed through the Law on Internal Trade as well as other practices which impede the operations of the private sector.