EBRD to finance Tirana municipality projects

TIRANA, June 25 – London-based EBRD has expressed its readiness to support infrastructure works the Tirana Municipality has undertaken. In a meeting with Tirana Mayor Lulzim Basha last week, EBRD directors said they were ready to finance the municipality’s tram project, considering the similar experience the bank has had in Warsaw. EBRD, which is currently involved in the multimodal passenger terminal in Tirana, said it was also interested to increase its investment portfolio in Tirana in public transport, parking and lighting projects.
“Tirana now has a general regulatory plan which for the country’s businessmen and foreign investors is additional guarantee for their future development plans,” said Mayor Basha.
While in Albania, between 20 – 22 June 2012, the EBRD Board directors met politicians, representatives from international financial institutions, members of the business and diplomatic community, as well as from civil society. The purpose of the visit was to get an update on the priorities of the Albanian economy and the expected role of the EBRD this country.
Since the beginning of its operations in Albania, the EBRD has committed Euro 665 million in various sectors to date.
The EBRD is one of the largest investors in the private sector in Albania. Its main areas of focus are supporting the financial sector and small-medium production enterprises, improving infrastructure, and developing natural resources. The Bank is also engaged in policy dialogue with the Albanian government, with the potential to invest in key public sector projects, along with the implementation of numerous donor-funded projects in the country.