TIRANA, Dec. 15, 2022 – Official work has begun on a coastal infrastructure development project in Albania’s southern Vlora County, financed through a $30-million development soft loan from the Saudi Arabia government.
A delegation from the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), headed by the Director General of Asia Operations at the Fund, Dr. Saud bin Ayed Al-Shammari, laid the foundation stone for the Rehabilitation and Construction of the Facilities Adjacent to the Coastal Road (Vlora-Orikum) project in Albania, the fund said in a press release.
Aimed at developing the infrastructure sector in Albania, the 11-km project aims to rehabilitate and raise the standards of service provision for the adjacent area of the beach – coastal road between the main city of Vlora and the town of Orikum. This includes rehabilitating public facilities and providing essential services such as water, electricity, and sanitation to the beach areas.
In addition to enhancing trade and economic levels in the country, the project will help achieve a number of sustainable development goals concerned with creating sustainable cities and communities, improving life on land, and strengthening development partnerships.
Saudi development funding has been assisting since 2009, noted Minister Mirela Kumbaro, adding the development cooperation between the two countries will contribute to supporting growth and creating many job opportunities.
Saudi Ambassador to Albania Faisal Hifzy pointed out the importance of this project and its impact on Albanian citizens, reflecting the commitment from the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through the fund to support development projects in different countries, including the Republic of Albania, which has close ties to the Kingdom.
Commenting on the project, Dr. Saud Al-Shammari noted that this project signifies the commitment from the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through SFD, to supporting development projects in the Republic of Albania. He praised the joint development efforts with the Republic and wished the Albanian government and people further progress and prosperity, emphasizing that this project signifies great development in the country.
Over the past years, in addition to this project, SFD has provided four development loans to contribute to funding three development projects valued at more than $114.5 million, aimed at achieving Albania’s sustainable development goals.
