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ECONOMIC CHAMBER OF MACEDONIA

bsi. ISO years
9001
Quality 1922 - 2016
Management
customs agencies to promote the AEO concept,
СТОПАНСКА КОМОРА НА МАКЕДОНИЈАFS549642 spark interest among businesses to obtain the AEO
status, and have the national status recognized by
Osnovana 1922 and in all countries; accession of countries from
the region to the Convention on Common Transit
ECONOMIC CHAMBER OF MACEDONIA Procedure and making complete use of the benefits
resulting from the implementation of the New
Founded 1922 Computerized Transit System (NCTS); introduction
of activities promoting the idea for joint border
competitiveness at global markets, but will also checkpoints and harmonized border controls to
serve as an advantage to countries that are not facilitate the flow of goods, which is of great interest
EU members, as it will pave the way for these to the business community; upgrading inspection
countries’ accession to the European Union. agencies’ capacities in terms of staff competencies,
EU membership means that the countries will and increasing the efficiency in implementing
become part of the single market of a united controls by providing better technical equipment,
Europe, one that does not impose customs, as well as cooperation among inspection agencies
barriers, and administrative burdens. For at international level; revising penal policies that
countries from this region, it would also create hamper businesses’ operations, which should be
an opportunity for a joint and competitive done by submitting an initiative to amend the
approach to new markets around the world. relevant applicable laws.

Another important recommendation (Mitko Mitevski, Independent Adviser
voiced at the event underlined the need at the Economic Chamber of Macedonia)
for closer cooperation between the public
and private sectors in the efforts for trade (Biljana Peeva-Gjurikj, Department Director)
facilitation, as it is only through a thorough
dialogue that stakeholders can find the right
way to accelerate the process of simplification of
border procedures in the region.

Several other speakers, representatives of
renowned local and foreign institutions, as well as of
business associations - chambers of commerce from
CEFTA region, addressed the conference on topics
closely related to customs procedures, including
regional strategies on solving ongoing issues and
problems in businesses’ daily operations (such as
non-tariff barriers and their influence on the flow
of goods and the like).

The informative speeches and the discussions
that followed resulted in several conclusions and
recommendations, which are to be harmonized
among CEFTA chambers of commerce and sent to
relevant competent institutions from the countries
in the region, as a set of recommended measures. In
general, they focus on: wider use of the simplified
customs procedures by the business community
at regional level; practical implementation of the
electronic rather than conventional ‘paper’ system
of performing trade-related operations, which is
closely connected to the need for a fully-functional
one stop shop system in cross-border trade at
regional level; familiarization of companies with the
concept of an ‘authorized economic operator’, which
requires a set of measures to be undertaken by the

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