Removing and reducing trade barriers between Western Balkan countries is considered highly important by companies across the region, according to last yearâs Barometer conducted by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).
Data from surveyed businesses show broad demand for easier trade. Companies in Albania and Bosnia attach the greatest importance to removing trade barriers in the region, while businesses in Serbia and North Macedonia show a lower willingness to support trade facilitation. Even so, the survey found that 70% of businesses across the six Western Balkan countries considered the removal of trade barriers to be either very important or important.
Albania: 75% of Businesses Consider Trade Facilitation Important
Businesses in Albania show exceptionally strong interest in eliminating border obstacles. Around 75% of surveyed companies consider the removal of trade barriers to be âvery importantâ and âimportantâ for their performance. Only a small minority, 9%, believe this process has no importance for their activity. Meanwhile, a small share, no more than 5%, express a neutral position toward this measure.
The data confirm that Albanian entrepreneurs see the region as a valuable opportunity for economic and financial expansion.
Bosnian Businesses: 88% Support Trade Opening
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the need to ease the movement of goods is also very strong. Nearly 88% of respondents consider the removal of trade barriers with other countries in the region to be very important and important. Only 1% do not see trade barriers as important.
This result shows an almost absolute consensus among the domestic business community in favour of changes that would facilitate intra-regional trade. Bosnian enterprises appear to be burdened by current obstacles and are strongly calling for reforms that would make trade easier.
Bosnia has had organic trade links with the former Yugoslav countries, apart from Albania. However, trade traditions with these countries, as well as inter-ethnic conflicts, have also made trade channels more difficult.
Serbia, the Least Interested in the Region
Serbia presents a somewhat different picture in terms of how businesses perceive trade barriers in the region. Although 50% of businesses consider the removal of barriers to be very important and important, skepticism is quite high.
Some 28% of Serbian companies state that this process has no importance at all for their activity. Around 22% of businesses maintained a neutral position, which suggests that nearly half of the Serbian market does not depend on the region. Serbia has a stronger orientation toward EU markets.
Kosovo, Between Trade Opening and Skepticism
Kosovo records the highest share of businesses that consider this process âvery importantâ, at 60%, while another 11% consider it important.
Survey data show that regional trade is seen as a key pillar for the growth of Kosovo companies. On the other hand, there is a group of 17% who believe that removing barriers has no importance at all.
This division points to a certain polarisation, where the absolute majority calls for maximum openness, while some skepticism remains. Despite this, the pro-integration voice of businesses in Kosovo remains dominant and quite strong.
North Macedonian Businesses: 67% Support Easing Barriers
In North Macedonia, 33% of businesses assess the removal of barriers as very important for the economy, while another considerable share, 34%, considers it important. Meanwhile, 17% of businesses maintain a neutral position. Skeptics, or those not affected by this process, account for 9%.
Montenegro Open to Regional Trade
Businesses in Montenegro show a similar assessment profile, with a strong focus on integration. The share of those who see the removal of obstacles as very important and important stands at 68%.
A large share, around 25%, express a neutral position, while only 7% see this process as completely irrelevant.
The Montenegrin market is mostly positive and expects benefits from trade facilitation. The spirit of cooperation remains high, given the potential offered by the neighbouring region as a whole. /B.Hoxha

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