site.btaBulgaria, Kosovo Sign Memorandum of Understanding on Agriculture

Bulgaria's Agriculture and Food Minister Kiril Vatev and Kosovo's Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development Minister Faton Peci Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed to promote cooperation in agriculture and rural development, Vatev's Ministry said. The two officials expect the document to help increase two-way trade in agricultural goods.

Vatev said he was confident that his visit to Pristina would pave the way for long cooperation. Bulgaria has old traditions in agriculture and veterinary medicine and can contribute its ample experience. Talking about trade relations, he said: "I believe it is our job to make contacts between businesses in Bulgaria and Kosovo."

For his part, Peci said Bulgaria has highly developed grain production and the Kosovo market is open for cereals and oilseeds. He stressed that the two countries' geographical proximity is a prerequisite for increasing imports.  

The meeting was attended by Bulgaria's Deputy Agriculture Minister Alexander Iotzev, Flutur Mustafa, Chief of Staff at Kosovo's Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development Ministry, and the Bulgarian Ambassador in Pristina, Hristo Gudjev.

The Bulgarian cabinet approved the text of the memorandum on January 19.

In 2021, Bulgaria's trade with Kosovo totalled EUR 114.4 million, of which Bulgarian exports accounted for EUR 92 million. Agricultural products were one of the leading exports to Kosovo, with sunflower, safflower and cottonseed oil and their fractions accounting for 4.9% of Bulgarian exports.