Skopje, 28 September 2023 (MIA) – At a session this morning, the Government adopted several decisions reducing customs duties from 65, 55, and 45 percent to 10 percent for several products from the category of fruits and vegetables, said Minister of Economy Kreshnik Bekteshi on Thursday. 

Bekteshi stressed that according to the analyses of the Ministry of Economy there is an increase in the export of domestic agricultural products which is being compensated by imports from neighboring countries, which, he said, ultimately negatively impacts domestic consumers through higher prices.

“Since we have to compensate that shortage through imports, currently when they are being imported these products are subject to customs duties of 65 percent. For example, if an agricultural product costs Mden 100, through the import, the import price, it directly increases to Mden 165, without any margins for retailers or wholesalers. Why is this the case, because we have systemic shortcomings and, we, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Finance should adjust these fees, since the end goal is for the citizens to pay lower prices. We can do that, we are competitive in the region and of course that is the direction which we are working towards,” said Bekteshi in an interview for TV24.

The Economy Minister said that a decision has been adopted raising the quotas for imports of tropical fruits, which, he said, is expected to reduce the prices of these products.

“The quotas for lemons, oranges, tangerines have been raised. Instead of 8.000 tons for tropical fruit, it is being raised by 2.000 tons by the end of the year, and during the winter we will have lower prices,” said Bekteshi.

In order to ensure that the Government’s decisions are being respected, added Bekteshi, inspectors from the State Market Inspectorate are constantly present on the ground and stressed that, in the past few days, several markets in Kumanovo, Tetovo, Gostivar and Struga were closed because they didn’t comply with the Government’s decisions and failed to reduce their prices.

The Government’s decision reducing customs duties on certain fruits and vegetables will enter into force when it is published in the Official Gazette and will remain valid until February 28, 2024.

Photo: MIA Archive