In June 2024, the license of the Customs Terminal in Ferizaj will expire. Although the terminal has applied for re-licensing on time, the Commission for review and evaluation of the request has not yet gone to this Terminal and there is still no response. In the complaint of the "Fitorja" company, it is stated that if the Terminal is closed, the transport companies from Serbia and other countries will benefit, which make up the majority of land transport operating in Kosovo with 95 percent.

The complaint of the "Fitorja" company, the petitions and full letters of the Customs Agents and businesses addressed to Prime Minister Albin Kurti, but the Government of Kosovo have not responded to KosovaPress.

Negligence of MMPHI for not re-licensing the Customs Terminal "Fitorja" in Ferizaj, says the minister Aliu

The Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Liburn, has stated this for KosovaPress Aliu, who says that this issue remains within the relevant Commission, and adds that it will be dealt with procedurally like other cases.

Aliu emphasizes that the claims by the company and those of the Municipality of Ferizaj will be treated quite seriously in the ministry that he leads, but also in the Ministry of Finance.

Although the terminal has applied for re-licensing in time, the commission for review and evaluation of the request has not yet gone to this Terminal and therefore there is no response. In the complaint of the "Fitorja" company, it is stated that if the Terminal is closed, the transport companies from Serbia and other countries will benefit, which make up the majority of land transport operating in Kosovo with 95%. However, for this Aliu says that there should be actions that promote the economic development of the country, and not harmful ones.

"We have also received a letter from the Municipality of Ferizaj and we are more or less informed of the situation, an application has also been made by the company, which according to the law must apply for the extension of this license six days before. The issue of this license will of course remain within the relevant commission, which is dealt with procedurally like other cases". say Aliu.

Commenting on the complaint of the "Fitorja" company, in which it is stated that in the event of the closure of this Terminal, the transport companies from Serbia will benefit, Aliu says that this is not in the interest of the country.

"The issue of the terminal is the procedural side, which will legally be handled by the commission, and I cannot give an opinion. Of course, we are interested in not having such actions that affect the economy, but which promote economic development in the country. Of course, the claims from the side of the company, from the side of the Municipality of Ferizaj to the Ministry of Finance and to our ministry will be treated quite seriously so that we can see what the result of this will be." Spreads Aliu.

Faced with this situation, the company "Fitorja" based in Ferizaj, operator licensed as a freight terminal, has addressed a complaint to the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Mr. Albin Kurti, asking the government to extend his operating license as he meets all the conditions and the closing of the terminal will have damages for all parties.

"The discontinuance of the license, along with the closing of the terminal, will damage our country, customs, businesses and customs agents because no one will benefit from these changes except international transport companies such as Serbia, North Macedonia, Turkey, Montenegro, etc. which make up most of the land transport operating in Kosovo with 95%, while the other 5% are local transport companies which do not enter the terminals due to customs facilities", the complaint states, among other things.

The company "Fitorja SH.PK" with headquarters in Ferizaj, is a licensed operator as a goods terminal that has been operating for more than 10 years in this sector and as such, the cooperation with Customs, customs agents, businesses and other parties has been very correct , not having any complaints during all these years.

"We believe that the non-renewal of the license, at the same time closing the terminal, first of all harms us as a company because during all this time we have continuously invested in this sector.

Secondly, our country will be damaged, customs, businesses and customs agents will be damaged because no one will benefit from these changes except international transport companies such as Serbia, North Macedonia, Turkey, Montenegro, etc., which make up the part the largest ground transport operating in Kosovo with a high percentage, at 95%, while the other 5% are local transport companies that do not enter the terminals due to customs facilities", the complaint states, among other things.

Further in this complaint, the "Fitorja" company asks the government to take these facts into account before making a decision.

"Therefore, we as a company ask you that before you decide to close the terminal, you should reconsider this issue, which is not beneficial to anyone."

For this issue, close to 300 businesses and about 30 customs agents who operate at the Ferizaj Terminal have signed two petitions addressed to the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, where they express their concern and dissatisfaction regarding the non-renewal of the terminal's license in Ferizaj.

In the petition signed by customs agents, it is stated, among other things, that if the license to operate the customs terminal is not continued, many customs agencies will be closed and many workers will be out of work./E.Krasniqi/