World Bank preparing project to facilitate trade in Balkans – Trucks at borders costing region EUR 800 million
– It makes no sense that it is only here that you can see rows of trucks on the borders, stretching back for kilometers. This is why the World Bank is preparing a regional project which should facilitate trade in the territory of the Balkans – said Lazar Sestovic, Senior Economist at the World Bank.
The project should be authorized this summer, and Serbia, Macedonia and Albania have expressed preliminary interest in its implementation so far.
That the CEFTA has improved trade in the region and increased the export was recently stated by Serbian Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications Rasim Ljajic. However, trucks still wait for seven to 48 hours at border crossings, whereas trucks in Georgia spend seven minutes at the border, the minister reminded.
– We lose 26 million hours a year due to the fact that trucks carrying goods are kept at the border, as shown by the IMF's data – the minister said.
Around EUR 800 is paid for various services at border crossings, whether they are justified or not, which amounts to 1% of the GDP of the countries of the region, Ljajic added.
According to the data of the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia, the country increased the foreign trade with all the countries in the region in 2017. The biggest growth, by as much as 41%, was realized in the trade with Bulgaria.
The latest data show that, at the end of 2017, the foreign trade between Serbia and Bulgaria exceeded the amount of EUR 1 billion. The export of Serbia to this country rose by over 50%, whereas the import grew by 28% compared to a year before. This means that, in two years, the trade between the two countries nearly doubled, as Serbia and Bulgaria had only a modest trade at the end of 2015. According to the data of the CCIS, it amounted to EUR 562 million at the time and it was one of the worst results in the region. At the time, only Romania and Albania had lower trade with Serbia, at EUR 206 million and EUR 120 million respectively.
Still, of all the countries in Serbia's neighborhood, the country realizes the biggest trade with Bosnia and Herzegovina. CCIS data show that the two countries' total trade reached EUR 1.7 billion at the end of 2017. However, the import grew by 28.8%, whereas the export of Serbia to B&H rose by only 8%.
The CCIS estimates that this country of the region is also Serbia's biggest trade partner in the CEFTA area as well. Serbia realizes 44% of the total trade with all CEFTA countries with B&H.
Single market
At the Mostar Fair 2018, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic once again presented his old idea about the establishment of a regional customs union.
– I will not give up on the idea of establishing a single market in the region. This idea is based on rational economic arguments – Vucic said.
Most Important News
06.04.2024. | Agriculture
Preconditions for Placement of Fresh Blueberries and Dried Plums in Chinese Market Secured
16.04.2024. | News
Jovan Ciric, Leasing Director Retail MPC Properties – MPC Echo symbolizes our desire for good ideas and innovative endeavors to spread freely and bring about positive changes
16.04.2024. | News
10.04.2024. | Finance, IT, Telecommunications, Tourism, Sports, Culture
Creative Industry – What This Serbian Economy Sector Worth EUR 2 Billion Encompasses
10.04.2024. | Finance, IT, Telecommunications, Tourism, Sports, Culture
23.04.2024. | Construction, Transport
Tender for first section of Belgrade-Nis fast railroad from Velika Plana to Paracin announced
23.04.2024. | Construction, Transport
16.04.2024. | News
Economy Fair in Mostar opens – 26 companies from Serbia exhibiting
16.04.2024. | News
22.04.2024. | Industry, Transport
Serbia to develop project of “flying taxis” for EXPO with Airbus – Signing of memorandum announced
22.04.2024. | Industry, Transport