The companies that are part of the Economic Chamber of Macedonia (ECM) are asking for joint customs services for goods between our country, Albania, and Serbia.
According to the monitoring that was conducted by ECM at the border crossings Tabanovce and Kjafasan, the biggest delays for the transporters are happening when a phytosanitary control is conducted (around three hours) and a veterinary control (one day).
“The companies are demanding that bilateral agreements are signed between institutions in Macedonia, Serbia and Albania in order for the joint controls at the previously mentioned border crossings to start working sooner. The implementation of a joint control on part of the organs from two states will allow for the goods to pass the border crossings faster by having control at one location, at the same time, with fewer resources for the state administrations” said the Economic Chamber’s Operative Director Aneta Trajkovska.
A problem for the transporters is that the phytosanitary and veterinary control in Serbia doesn’t work on the weekend and in Macedonia, the working hours start at 7 am until 7 pm, and at Kjafasan there aren’t always officers for these types of control and a previously issued confirmation will be needed.
According to the monitoring conducted by the World Bank, the transporters lose 80% of their time by waiting at the border crossing, and 20% while on the road. The long wait on the borders decreases the value of the goods by one percent and why agricultural products get decreased even by 7%.
Transportation costs are part of the total value of the products which also influences the competitiveness and the exporting.
The companies seek that the joint customs services should start from the 1st of October.
