Food Industry in South-East Europe Part 2: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and Kosovo

While in Bosnia and Herzegovina the strengthening of state-level capacities in the field of agriculture continues to be necessary, and preparations to setting up structures to implement IPARD (Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance in Rural Development) need to be intensified, the agriculture and food processing sector has been one of the growth drivers in the economy of Albania.

Larger Albanian enterprises are found in the flour production, milk processing industry, meat processing industry, refined oils, wine and other beverages. However, the competitiveness of the food industry in Albania is limited. Besides retail and wholesale, meat and beverage sub-sectors, most of the food industry companies in Albania are of a relatively small size.

Since 2008, the year Kosovo declared its independence, its economy has developed further and has made progress to a more market-based economy. However, remittances from abroad are still very important and unemployment is a significant problem. Kosovo has one of the most open economies in the region, with low customs rate on imports and customs-free access to the EU and the US market.

• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Albania
• Kosovo