Albania cuts reference prices for Kosovo potatoes

TIRANA, April 3 – After Kosovo government warnings of imposing reciprocity measures, Albania has reduced reference prices for Kosovo potato exporters, removing trade barriers for the key agricultural product Kosovo exports to Albania.
Kosovo officials confirm the reference price has been restored to 14 Eurocent/kg down from 24 Eurocent in last March.
“Since yesterday the reference price on potato is 14 cents, as it has been earlier. We have insisted on Albania’s institutions to return the previous reference price, in order not to have to increase the reference prices and to undertake reciprocity measures. Since April 1 they have removed the price of 24 cents, thus there is no need to undertake any measure. We are following the situation, not only with regard to potato, but as well on other products,” Bernard Nikaj, the advisor to the Ministry of Trade and Industry told Kosovo reporters.
According to INSTAT data, Kosovo ranked the third biggest destination of Albanian exports in 2011 with an estimated 14.7 billion lek, (Euro 103 million), up 47 percent compared to 2010. The most important category, remain metals products with a 50 percent share followed by minerals at 28 percent, according to the Albanian Center for International Trade (ACIT).