Cigarette smuggling in Macedonia is low, reducing by 20 percent in the past four years and reaching a level below the average of certain EU states.
Customs Administration director Vanco Kargov and Imperial Tobacco TKS-Skopje manager Richard Parratt said lowering of the illicit cigarette trafficking to six percent came as a result of increased cooperation among institutions and the business community in the field, as well as measures undertaken in fighting this phenomenon.
The goal of the conference on illicit trafficking with tobacco products, held Wednesday in Skopje, is protecting of consumers from a low-quality product, providing high competitiveness, and protecting fiscal interests.
Kargov stressed that despite measures, illicit cigarette trafficking would occur, especially after the country's EU accession, when taxes in the field were to increase significantly.
"In order to respond to challenges, our capacities need to be prepared and strengthened", added Kargov.
Imperial Tobacco manager Parratt stressed the company would invest EUR 4 million in 2012 towards implementing a system of monitoring the tobacco product, with a focus on illicit movement of such products.
"This is just the beginning of the cooperation with the Customs Administration, since future challenges will be even more difficult", said Parratt.
The conference should enable further strengthening of cooperation with the business community towards improvement of results in the field.
