<p>Kosovo </p><p><strong>Table of Contents </strong></p><p><a href="#6_0"><strong>Doing Business in Kosovo ____________________________6 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#6_1"><strong>Market Overview</strong></a><a href="#6_1"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#6_1"><strong>___________________________________ 6 </strong></a><a href="#7_0"><strong>Market Challenges</strong></a><a href="#7_0"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#7_0"><strong>__________________________________ 7 </strong></a><a href="#8_0"><strong>Market Opportunities</strong></a><a href="#8_0"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#8_0"><strong>________________________________ 8 </strong></a><a href="#9_0"><strong>Market Entry Strategy</strong></a><a href="#9_0"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#9_0"><strong>________________________________ 9 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#11_0"><strong>Political and Economic Environment</strong></a><a href="#11_0"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#11_0"><strong>____________________ 11 </strong></a><a href="#11_1"><strong>Selling US Products &amp; Services ________________________</strong></a><a href="#11_1"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#11_1"><strong>11 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#11_2"><strong>Using an Agent to Sell US Products and Services _________________ 11 </strong></a><a href="#11_3"><strong>Establishing an Office</strong></a><a href="#11_3"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#11_3"><strong>________________________________ 11 </strong></a><a href="#11_4"><strong>Franchising ______________________________________</strong></a><a href="#11_4"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#11_4"><strong>11 </strong></a><a href="#12_0"><strong>Direct Marketing</strong></a><a href="#12_0"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#12_0"><strong>___________________________________ 12 </strong></a><a href="#12_1"><strong>Joint Ventures/Licensing</strong></a><a href="#12_1"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#12_1"><strong>______________________________ 12 </strong></a><a href="#12_2"><strong>Selling to the Governmen</strong></a><a href="#12_2"><strong>t</strong></a><a href="#12_2"><strong>_</strong></a><a href="#12_2"><strong>_____________________________ 12 </strong></a><a href="#13_0"><strong>Distribution &amp; Sales Channels____________________________ 13 </strong></a><a href="#13_1"><strong>Express Delivery</strong></a><a href="#13_1"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#13_1"><strong>___________________________________ 13 </strong></a><a href="#13_2"><strong>Selling Factors &amp; Techniques ____________________________ 13 </strong></a><a href="#14_0"><strong>eCommerce ______________________________________</strong></a><a href="#14_0"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#14_0"><strong>14 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#14_1">Overview____________________________________________ 14 </a><a href="#14_2">Current Market Trends</a><a href="#14_2">&nbsp;</a><a href="#14_2">___________________________________ 14 </a><a href="#14_3">Domestic eCommerce (B2C)</a><a href="#14_3">&nbsp;</a><a href="#14_3">________________________________ 14 </a><a href="#14_4">Cross-Border eCommerce__________________________________</a><a href="#14_4">&nbsp;</a><a href="#14_4">14 </a><a href="#15_0">Online Payment________________________________________</a><a href="#15_0">&nbsp;</a><a href="#15_0">15 </a><a href="#15_1">Major Buying Holidays</a><a href="#15_1">&nbsp;</a><a href="#15_1">___________________________________ 15 </a><a href="#15_2">Social Media__________________________________________</a><a href="#15_2">&nbsp;</a><a href="#15_2">15 </a></p><p><a href="#15_3"><strong>Trade Promotion &amp; Advertising___________________________ 15 </strong></a><a href="#19_0"><strong>Pricing _________________________________________</strong></a><a href="#19_0"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#19_0"><strong>19 </strong></a><a href="#19_1"><strong>Sales Service/Customer Support</strong></a><a href="#19_1"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#19_1"><strong>__________________________ 19 </strong></a><a href="#19_2"><strong>Protecting Intellectual Property</strong></a><a href="#19_2"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#19_2"><strong>__________________________ 19 </strong></a><a href="#19_3"><strong>Due Diligence</strong></a><a href="#19_3"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#19_3"><strong>_____________________________________ 19 </strong></a><a href="#20_0"><strong>Local Professional Services</strong></a><a href="#20_0"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#20_0"><strong>_____________________________20 </strong></a><a href="#22_0"><strong>Principle Business Associations</strong></a><a href="#22_0"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#22_0"><strong>_________________________</strong></a><a href="#22_0"><strong>_</strong></a><a href="#22_0"><strong>2</strong></a><a href="#22_0"><strong>2 </strong></a><a href="#23_0"><strong>Limitations on Selling US Products and Services________________</strong></a><a href="#23_0"><strong>_</strong></a><a href="#23_0"><strong>2</strong></a><a href="#23_0"><strong>3 </strong></a><a href="#23_1"><strong>Web Resources</strong></a><a href="#23_1"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#23_1"><strong>___________________________________</strong></a><a href="#23_1"><strong>_</strong></a><a href="#23_1"><strong>2</strong></a><a href="#23_1"><strong>3 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#25_0"><strong>Leading Sectors for US Exports &amp; Investments_______________ 25 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#25_1"><strong>Energy ________________________________________</strong></a><a href="#25_1"><strong>_</strong></a><a href="#25_1"><strong>2</strong></a><a href="#25_1"><strong>5 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#25_2">Overview____________________________________________ 25 </a><a href="#27_0">Leading Sub-Sector</a><a href="#27_0">s</a><a href="#27_0">_</a><a href="#27_0">____________________________________</a><a href="#27_0">&nbsp;</a><a href="#27_0">27 </a><a href="#27_1">Opportunities _________________________________________</a><a href="#27_1">&nbsp;</a><a href="#27_1">27 </a><a href="#27_2">Web Resources</a><a href="#27_2">&nbsp;</a><a href="#27_2">________________________________________ 27 </a></p><p><a href="#29_0"><strong>Agricultural Sector</strong></a><a href="#29_0"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#29_0"><strong>__________________________________29 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#29_1">Overview____________________________________________ 29 </a><a href="#30_0">Leading Sub-Sector</a><a href="#30_0">s</a><a href="#30_0">_</a><a href="#30_0">____________________________________</a><a href="#30_0">&nbsp;</a><a href="#30_0">30 </a><a href="#30_1">Opportunities _________________________________________</a><a href="#30_1">&nbsp;</a><a href="#30_1">30 </a><a href="#30_2">Web Resources</a><a href="#30_2">&nbsp;</a><a href="#30_2">________________________________________ 30 </a></p><p><a href="#0_0"><strong>Health _________________________________________</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>31 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_1">Overview____________________________________________ 31 </a><a href="#0_2">Leading Sub-Sector</a><a href="#0_2">s</a><a href="#0_2">_</a><a href="#0_2">____________________________________</a><a href="#0_2">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_2">31 </a><a href="#0_3">Opportunities _________________________________________</a><a href="#0_3">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_3">31 </a><a href="#0_4">Web Resources</a><a href="#0_4">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_4">________________________________________ 31 </a></p><p><a href="#0_0"><strong>Infrastructure _____________________________________ 33 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_1">Overview____________________________________________ 33 </a><a href="#0_5">Leading Sub-Sector</a><a href="#0_5">s</a><a href="#0_5">_</a><a href="#0_5">____________________________________</a><a href="#0_5">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_5">33 </a><a href="#0_0">Opportunities _________________________________________</a><a href="#0_0">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_0">34 </a><a href="#0_6">Web Resources</a><a href="#0_6">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_6">________________________________________ 34 </a></p><p><a href="#0_0"><strong>Mining and Minerals ________________________________</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>_</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>3</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>5 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_1">Overview____________________________________________ 35 </a><a href="#0_7">Leading Sub-Sector</a><a href="#0_7">s</a><a href="#0_7">_</a><a href="#0_7">____________________________________</a><a href="#0_7">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_7">36 </a><a href="#0_8">Opportunities _________________________________________</a><a href="#0_8">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_8">36 </a><a href="#0_9">Web Resources</a><a href="#0_9">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_9">________________________________________ 36 </a></p><p><a href="#0_0"><strong>Telecommunications _________________________________ 37 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_10">Overview____________________________________________ 37 </a><a href="#0_11">Leading Sub-Sector</a><a href="#0_11">s</a><a href="#0_11">_</a><a href="#0_11">____________________________________</a><a href="#0_11">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_11">37 </a><a href="#0_12">Opportunities _________________________________________</a><a href="#0_12">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_12">38 </a><a href="#0_13">Web Resources</a><a href="#0_13">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_13">________________________________________ 38 </a></p><p><a href="#0_0"><strong>Customs, Regulations and Standards</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>____________________ 39 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_14"><strong>Trade Barriers ____________________________________</strong></a><a href="#0_14"><strong>_</strong></a><a href="#0_14"><strong>3</strong></a><a href="#0_14"><strong>9 </strong></a><a href="#0_15"><strong>Import Tariff</strong></a><a href="#0_15"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#0_15"><strong>_____________________________________40 </strong></a><a href="#0_16"><strong>Import Requirements &amp; Documentation______________________40 </strong></a><a href="#0_17"><strong>Labeling/Marking Requirement</strong></a><a href="#0_17"><strong>s</strong></a><a href="#0_17"><strong>_</strong></a><a href="#0_17"><strong>_________________________ 41 </strong></a><a href="#0_18"><strong>U.S. Export Controls</strong></a><a href="#0_18"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#0_18"><strong>_________________________________ 41 </strong></a><a href="#0_19"><strong>Temporary Entry</strong></a><a href="#0_19"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#0_19"><strong>___________________________________ 41 </strong></a><a href="#0_20"><strong>Prohibited &amp; Restricted Imports</strong></a><a href="#0_20"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#0_20"><strong>__________________________42 </strong></a><a href="#0_21"><strong>Customs Regulations _________________________________42 </strong></a><a href="#0_22"><strong>Standards for Trade</strong></a><a href="#0_22"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#0_22"><strong>_________________________________42 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_23">Overview____________________________________________ 42 </a><a href="#0_24">Standards ___________________________________________ 43 </a><a href="#0_25">Testing, inspection and certification</a><a href="#0_25">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_25">___________________________ 43 </a><a href="#0_26">Publication of technical regulations ____________________________</a><a href="#0_26">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_26">44 </a><a href="#0_27">Contact Information _____________________________________</a><a href="#0_27">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_27">44 </a></p><p><a href="#0_28"><strong>Trade Agreements</strong></a><a href="#0_28"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#0_28"><strong>__________________________________45 </strong></a><a href="#0_29"><strong>Licensing Requirements for Professional Services________________45 </strong></a><a href="#0_30"><strong>Web Resources</strong></a><a href="#0_30"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#0_30"><strong>____________________________________46 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_31"><strong>Investment Climate Statement ________________________ 46 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_32"><strong>Executive Summary__________________________________46 </strong></a><a href="#0_33"><strong>Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment ___________48 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_34">Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment _______________________</a><a href="#0_34">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_34">48 </a><a href="#0_35">Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment___</a><a href="#0_35">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_35">48 </a><a href="#0_36">Other Investment Policy Reviews</a><a href="#0_36">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_36">_____________________________ 49 </a><a href="#0_37">Business Facilitatio</a><a href="#0_37">n</a><a href="#0_37">_</a><a href="#0_37">____________________________________ 49 </a><a href="#0_38">Outward Investment _____________________________________</a><a href="#0_38">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_38">50 </a></p><p><a href="#0_39"><strong>Bilateral Investment Agreements and Taxation Treaties ____________50 </strong></a><a href="#0_40"><strong>Legal Regime</strong></a><a href="#0_40"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#0_40"><strong>_____________________________________50 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_41">Transparency of the Regulatory System</a><a href="#0_41">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_41">_________________________ 50 </a><a href="#0_27">International Regulatory Considerations _________________________</a><a href="#0_27">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_27">51 </a><a href="#0_42">Legal System and Judicial Independence _________________________</a><a href="#0_42">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_42">51 </a><a href="#0_43">Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment __________________</a><a href="#0_43">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_43">52 </a><a href="#0_44">Competition and Anti-Trust Law</a><a href="#0_44">s</a><a href="#0_44">_</a><a href="#0_44">____________________________</a><a href="#0_44">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_44">53 </a><a href="#0_45">Expropriation and Compensation</a><a href="#0_45">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_45">_____________________________ 53 </a><a href="#0_46">Dispute Settlement______________________________________</a><a href="#0_46">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_46">54 </a><br><a href="#0_47">ICSID Convention and New York Convention</a><a href="#0_47">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_47">_____________________ 54 </a><a href="#0_48">Investor-State Dispute Settlement ___________________________ 54 </a><a href="#0_49">International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts</a><a href="#0_49">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_49">_____________ 54 </a><br><a href="#0_43">Bankruptcy Regulation</a><a href="#0_43">s</a><a href="#0_43">_</a><a href="#0_43">__________________________________</a><a href="#0_43">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_43">55 </a></p><p><a href="#0_50"><strong>Industrial Policies__________________________________</strong></a><a href="#0_50"><strong>_</strong></a><a href="#0_50"><strong>5</strong></a><a href="#0_50"><strong>5 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_51">Investment Incentive</a><a href="#0_51">s</a><a href="#0_51">_</a><a href="#0_51">___________________________________</a><a href="#0_51">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_51">55 </a><a href="#0_30">Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation ___________________</a><a href="#0_30">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_30">56 </a><a href="#0_52">Performance and Data Localization Requirements</a><a href="#0_52">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_52">___________________ 56 </a></p><p><a href="#0_53"><strong>Protection of Property Rights ____________________________56 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_54">Real Property _________________________________________ 56 </a><a href="#0_55">Intellectual Property Rights</a><a href="#0_55">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_55">________________________________ 58 </a><a href="#0_56">OPIC and Other Investment Insurance Programs ____________________</a><a href="#0_56">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_56">59 </a><a href="#0_0">Foreign Direct Investment and Foreign Portfolio Investment Statistics _______</a><a href="#0_0">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_0">60 </a></p><p><a href="#0_57"><strong>Contact for More Information____________________________ 61 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_0"><strong>Trade &amp; Project Financin</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>g</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>_</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>__________________________ 62 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_14"><strong>Methods of Payment _________________________________62 </strong></a><a href="#0_58"><strong>Banking Systems</strong></a><a href="#0_58"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#0_58"><strong>___________________________________62 </strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>Foreign Exchange Controls</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>____________________________</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>_</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>6</strong></a><a href="#0_0"><strong>3 </strong></a><a href="#0_59"><strong>US Banks &amp; Local Correspondent Bank</strong></a><a href="#0_59"><strong>s</strong></a><a href="#0_59"><strong>_</strong></a><a href="#0_59"><strong>____________________</strong></a><a href="#0_59"><strong>_</strong></a><a href="#0_59"><strong>6</strong></a><a href="#0_59"><strong>3 </strong></a><a href="#0_60"><strong>Project Financing __________________________________</strong></a><a href="#0_60"><strong>_</strong></a><a href="#0_60"><strong>6</strong></a><a href="#0_60"><strong>3 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_61">Multilateral Development Banks: ____________________________</a><a href="#0_61">&nbsp;</a><a href="#0_61">65 </a></p><p><a href="#0_62"><strong>Financing Web Resources ______________________________65 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_0"><strong>Business Travel _________________________________ 67 </strong></a></p><p><a href="#0_14"><strong>Business Customs___________________________________67 </strong></a><a href="#0_63"><strong>Travel Advisory</strong></a><a href="#0_63"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#0_63"><strong>____________________________________67 </strong></a><a href="#0_64"><strong>Visa Requirements</strong></a><a href="#0_64"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#0_64"><strong>__________________________________67 </strong></a><a href="#0_31"><strong>Currency ________________________________________68 </strong></a><a href="#0_65"><strong>Telecommunications/Electri</strong></a><a href="#0_65"><strong>c</strong></a><a href="#0_65"><strong>_</strong></a><a href="#0_65"><strong>___________________________68 </strong></a><a href="#0_66"><strong>Transportation ____________________________________68 </strong></a><a href="#0_24"><strong>Languag</strong></a><a href="#0_24"><strong>e</strong></a><a href="#0_24"><strong>_</strong></a><a href="#0_24"><strong>_______________________________________69 </strong></a><a href="#0_67"><strong>Health _________________________________________69 </strong></a><a href="#0_57"><strong>Local Time, Business Hours and Holidays_____________________69 </strong></a><a href="#0_17"><strong>Temporary Entry of Materials or Personal Belongings</strong></a><a href="#0_17"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#0_17"><strong>_____________70 </strong></a><a href="#0_68"><strong>Travel Related Web Resources</strong></a><a href="#0_68"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="#0_68"><strong>___________________________70 </strong></a></p><p><strong>Doing Business in Kosovo </strong></p><p><strong>Market Overview </strong></p><p>•</p><p>The Republic of Kosovo is Europe’s youngest country – and one of its poorest – but it has maintained positive economic growth rates, most recently 3.8 percent in 2016.&nbsp;Kosovo is working to improve the investment climate by strengthening the legal environment necessary to attract and retain foreign investment. </p><p>•</p><p>In 2016, the Central Bank of Kosovo estimated Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) at €234.8 million, down from €338 million in 2015. The unemployment rate is estimated at 27.5 percent.&nbsp;The difficult labor-market conditions affect youth and women disproportionately </p><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">and risk undermining the country’s social fabric. </li><li style="flex:1">Despite these </li></ul><p>challenges, Kosovo’s relatively young population, low labor costs, and abundant natural resources have attracted foreign investment, with several international firms and franchises already present in the market. </p><p>•</p><p>Kosovo’s main trade partners are EU countries (approximately 43.1 percent of imports and 22.6 percent of exports) and its neighbors through the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA – approximately 27.0 percent of imports and 46.6 percent of exports). Kosovo&nbsp;continues to run a large trade deficit, with exports covering only about 12 percent of imports. </p><p>••</p><p>Switzerland was the largest investor in Kosovo in 2016 (€61.8 million). U.S. investment reached €22.5 million in 2016. Kosovo has much to offer U.S. investors and exporters: o Kosovo’s <strong>liberal trade regime </strong>enables duty-free exports for the majority of Kosovo goods to the EU market.&nbsp;The Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU has further reinforced trade liberalization and removed many of the remaining trade and tariff barriers. o Kosovo’s <strong>location </strong>in the heart of the Balkans offers easy access to the Balkans and CEFTA members, which represent a market of approximately 28 million people. o Improving <strong>infrastructure </strong>evident by the completion of a modern highway to Albania and a second highway to Skopje, Macedonia currently under construction.&nbsp;Kosovo’s international airport terminal hosts more than one million passengers a year. Additional upgrades are under consideration to avoid flight cancellations in the winter months and accommodate larger planes. o Kosovo’s <strong>young workforce </strong>has an average age of 26; most are multilingual (often speaking English and German). </p><p>o Kosovo has <strong>competitive labor costs and tax policies</strong>. Kosovo’s </p><p>average monthly salary of €360 is amongst the lowest in Europe, and the current tax regime is business-friendly with a flat, 10 percent corporate income tax.&nbsp;VAT rates for basic food items and public utilities are 8 percent, while VAT for all other items is 18 percent. </p><p>••</p><p>Kosovo is ranked 60 out of 190 countries in the World Bank’s Doing Business report.&nbsp;The government is working to improve its ranking by pursuing new incentives for foreign investment, including tax breaks and additional legal protections. Major foreign investment projects in the near term include the ongoing construction of a €600M highway to Macedonia and the revitalization and the construction of a new 450MW coal-fired thermal power plant. As a member of the EU-funded Western Balkans 6 core transportation network aimed at improving regional connectivity, Kosovo plans to revitalize key railway lines. </p><p><strong>Market Challenges </strong></p><p>•</p><p><strong>Market size:&nbsp;</strong>Kosovo’s population – officially 1.8 million people based on the 2012 census– may present a challenge to investment in industries requiring a substantial economy of scale to realize profitability. </p><p>•</p><p><strong>Weak judicial system:&nbsp;</strong>In addition to a significant backlog, Kosovo’s </p><p>judicial system lacks the competency and business orientation to enforce commercial contracts.&nbsp;The Kosovo Bar Association includes very few firms capable of providing legal services at the level expected in more developed markets. </p><p>••</p><p><strong>Corruption: </strong>Perceived and actual corruption is widespread in Kosovo. Senior-level public officials have been accused of bribery, racketeering, and other forms of corruption.&nbsp;Widespread corruption reflects a “costof-doing business” mentality prevalent in many parts of the region. Anti-corruption efforts suffer from a lack of cohesion, forceful action, and follow-through measures, including prosecution. <strong>Public procurement: </strong>The government lacks the capacity to successfully manage large-scale public-sector transactions on its own.&nbsp;The GoK contracts international firms as transaction advisors, which has resulted at times in conflicts of interest and delays.&nbsp;Local and regional distributors have consistently complained about irregularities in public tenders at the national and municipal levels.&nbsp;Most large contracts contain an Alternative Dispute Resolution clause. </p>