Kosovo hopes for Turkish investors in free trade zone

Kosovo is willing to host a free trade zone incorporating Balkan countries including Turkey, according to Kosovar Economy and Finance Minister Ahmet Shala. "As a young country, Kosovo presents various investment opportunities in sectors such as agriculture, food processing, construction, textiles, information technology, automotive components, and energy and mining," Shala said in an interview. "We're interested in such an agreement and have already discussed it with Turkish authorities. We're ready to negotiate and make this happen." Shala said a free trade zone similar to the one established between Turkey, Jordan and Syria could boost trade in the region. He said that if Turkey came up with a proposal they would like to negotiate to take part in it. "Turkey always supported us before, during and after the war, and now we would like to integrate more and work collaboratively for a better future with Turkey," he said. Already a member of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, and Serbia, Kosovo also benefits from non-reciprocal, customs-free access to the European Union market based on the EU Autonomous Trade Preference (ATP) regime.