Central European Free Trade Agreement

BELGRADE - Only establishment of a common economic area in the W. Balkans can bring a more significant acceleration of economic growth of all countries in the region, says Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia President (PKS) Marko Cadez.

The Serbian government on Friday demanded from Pristina to abolish the so-called import duty on flour transported from Serbia to Kosovo and Metohija.

The Serbian government announced this on its website, citing Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications Rasim Ljajic

Businesses in Kosovo are protesing against what they see as deliberate attempts by Serbia and Macedonia to block imports from Kosovo, so violating their commitments to free trade.

Pristina economic expert Naim Gashi notes that while the total volume of trade between Kosovo and Serbia is worth around 450 million euros a year, the balance if trade is hugely skewed in Serbia's favour.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications Rasim Ljajic spoke on Thursday with EU Delegation to Serbia head Sam Fabrizi.

Their conversation concerned "Serbia's membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the strengthening of regional economic cooperation," the Serbian government announced.

EU Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn's support for the creation of a common market in the Western Balkans, raised during the recent summit of six leaders in Sarajevo, has drawn little enthusiasm in Kosovo and Albania.

BELGRADE - The Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) is one of the few successful regional initiatives with tangible results over the past 10 years and more, Serbian Minister of Trade Rasim Ljajic said Wednesday.

The CEFTA countries are Serbia's second largest foreign trade partner - second only to the EU - and Serbia now has a 2.1 bln euro surplus with the CEFTA countries.

The Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) is a rare successful regional initiative with tangible results over the past ten or so years.

Serbian Minister of Trade, Tourism, and Telecommunications and Deputy PM Rasim Ljajic said this on Monday in Belgrade during a conference marking the trade deal's tenth anniversary.

Rasim Ljajic said on Wednesday that a revision of Bosnia's genocide lawsuit against Serbia would lead to a freeze in relations between the two countries.

The Serbian trade and telecommunications minister who also serves as a deputy PM spoke in Belgrade after a conference dedicated to regional free trade agreement CEFTA.

BRUSSELS - As the 2017 CEFTA chair, Serbia will focus on strengthening and deepening the implementation of the Central European Free Trade Agreement, a Brussels panel was told Wednesday as Serbia presented the priorities of its CEFTA chairmanship.

BELGRADE - The European Commission's decision to raise its 2016 GDP growth forecast for Serbia from 1.6 pct to 2 pct is mostly a result of increased exports and investments and a recovery of Serbia's main trade partners, says Freek Janmaat, the head of the EU integration and economy department of the EU Delegation to Serbia.