4th consecutive Crans Montana Economic Forum in Tirana

TIRANA, March 26؃rans Montana opened yesterday its economic forum for the 4th consecutive year in Tirana. CMEF will hold talks for three days, March 25 to 27, 2009, between Government leaders and major businesses to share expertise, develop common strategies and goals.
Jean-Paul Carteron, President of Crans Montana Economic Forum, said in his opening speech that “the global economic crisis has stopped in front of Albania’s doorsteps. Of course there will consequences, because countries are economically interrelated, but in regards to development and standard of living, the Albanian government will increase its efficiency.”
Albania will become a NATO member with full rights on April 6 and is planning to apply for EU membership before its parliamentary elections in late June. Doing Business 2009, a yearly World Bank report, rated Albania as one of the most improving countries globally in improving business regulations and promoting business climate in the country. In addition, despite the current global economic crisis, Albania has one of the fastest growing economies in the region, and in Europe, and it is also tipped by many international economic authorities to be one of the few countries to keep a positive economic growth rate in 2009, a testimony to solid reforms undertaken in recent years.
Albania is hoping to use the forum as grounds for advertising its recent economic success and progress with the hope of attracting more foreign investors, something that has eluded the country in recent years.
Sali Berisha, PM of Albania, also present in the opening stages of the forum, emphasized that his government will undertake all necessary steps to attract Foreign Direct Investment in Albania.
“In this time of crisis, Albania is trying to progress through investments. From December 2008 and to January 2009 we have signed 3.5 billion EUR in contracts by creating a strong base in the energy sector,” he said.
The PM mentioned recent contracts signed in the energy sector for new thermo-plants, including the biggest terminal in Europe according to a project involving the Albanian government and 2 companies from Norway and Austria. Overall, according to Berisha, there are 50 contracts signed, 20 of which are expected to start work on the ground in the up and coming weeks.
Another attractive investment potential is wind energy, which according to Berisha, is already being considered by many interested companies.
In addition, Berisha concentrated on tourism as the biggest economic potential in the country.
“Our coast has wonderful sandy and rocky beaches and many serious companies are planning investments in billions of Euros in the Adriatic and Ionian coasts,” he said.
Great debates on regional and European level are being organized on key issues such as securing Foreign Direct Investment, Banking and Financial activities, Energy Production & Distribution, Network Integration, Telecommunications and ICT, Transport Networks, Environment Protection and Tourism.
One key subject expected to be debated in the Forum is gas transportation routes or supply lines. Representatives from Iran, Qatar, and other gas exporting countries will meet with representatives from Albania and Switzerland. Swiss companies are working to find the most economically efficient routes and are politically supported by the Swiss government.
There are already plans for the construction of a Trans-Adriatic pipeline that will connect Italy with the Greek-Turkish Nabuco gas pipeline passing through Albanian territory. Securing new petrol and gas routes has become a key issue for Western Europe after the Russian-Ukrainian gas conflict, a month that exposed Europe’s dependence on Russian gas supply. Europe is now becoming more interested in fuel supplies from Central Asia. Therefore, the possibility of supply routes passing through the Balkans has gained momentum making the region an important player in energy security and for potential investments in the sector.
The proposed gas pipelines involve complex geo-political situations where EU countries find themselves divided. Officially, the EU supports the Nabuco gas pipeline that will connect Vienna with Central Asia via Turkey and the Balkans. However, three EU members have already reached agreements with Russia against the EU’s political stance. In addition, Western Europe is having trouble to find suppliers in Central Asia and there is the temptation to export gas from Iran, which by all chances will greatly harm EU-US relations.
The Forum will also address measures against the global economic crisis and other areas such as global security and networking. Either way, while it is sure the Crans Montana Economic Forum will not solve all issues involved, it will help towards some progress being achieved for some hot topics and at the end of the day it will be a great opportunity for Albania to market its image