CEFTA 2006: Trade information goes online - launch of the “CEFTA Trade Portal” during CEFTA Week in Belgrade

On November 10th, the eight signatories to the free trade agreement CEFTA 2006 will launch the “CEFTA Trade Portal” on the occasion of the CEFTA Week 2010 in Belgrade. In this, they are supported by the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) on behalf of German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The new online Trade Portal will contain all relevant and practical information for trading with the Parties to the free trade agreement “CEFTA 2006”. Traders importing goods into and exporting goods from each CEFTA Party are subject to a number of important rules and regulations with regard to customs, licensing, SPS and veterinary control procedures, technical and other requirements. At the moment, it may take weeks to get the information they need. The aim of the Portal is to reduce the enterprises’ time and transaction costs for gathering this information as well as increasing the transparency of trade procedures.

Designed as a single point of access to relevant information from all eight CEFTA Parties, the Portal includes an explanation of each stage of the trade procedures. It not only lists but also provides online the relevant documents that companies need to import or export goods. Language barriers – which often complicate getting trade information – are overcome by offering information in all official languages as well as in English.

The Portal will increase transparency in the regulations and formalities that refer to trade with the region. Its purpose is, thus, to facilitate regional trade through the elimination of non-tariff barriers.

The Portal will not only serve the private sector but also public administration in the respective CEFTA Parties to be acquainted with all formalities, regulations and rules in trading across the region. The Portal complements the efforts of different CEFTA institutions to exchange information in this regard. With that, it is considered that the Portal will contribute to strengthened competition and the promotion of the foreign investment as well as cooperation in the region.

The launching of the Portal is the result of a complex process that involved the Ministries responsible for trade from all eight CEFTA Parties in a joint effort. The process started more than one year ago and was implemented under a project of the GTZ “Open Regional Funds for Foreign Trade Promotion in Southeast Europe” (ORF FT). The project running from 2008-2010 was led by the Albanian Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy.

The launching of the CEFTA Trade Portal is the first step in promoting a multilingual Portal that can make life easier for businesses and to help them to do business with any other Party. The CEFTA Parties under the lead of the Albanian Ministry will continue to work closely together to progressively enrich The Portal’s content and develop new functionalities. A new GTZ ORF FT project will continue to provide targeted support to them until December 2012.

The new online tool is called "CEFTA Trade Portal" and can be accessed at http://www.ceftatradeportal.com. We welcome all visitors and interested persons to visit the portal and test the usefulness and accuracy of information.