Albania getting ready for Europe

TIRANA, Jan. 5 – Albania has posted good economic numbers last year with about 4 percent GDP growth.
That is much lower than what authorities were expecting (about 6 percent) but still good enough at a time when Europe and the world is suffering from the economic crisis.
Tirana authorities attribute such a success pretty much to the good governance from Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s government.
Albania’s economic growth over the last four years has been higher than at any time in the last 100 years – with projected growth for 2009 the highest in Europe – due to a series of government initiatives in recent years that have helped Albania to cope with the impact of the world recession. The Albanian economy has been able to progress despite a number of significant shocks to the world’s economy.
Projected GDP growth for 2009 is the highest in the Europe and follows its peak growth rate in 2007-2008.
That’s very important despite its real effects on the people’s life.
The Albanian economy has done very well under Berisha and government policy has been key. These economic gains are a big part of the reason he won re-election in 2009. Billions of dollars are currently being invested in all sectors, especially in the energy sector.
Berisha raised the budget and salaries and lifted many Albanians from the poverty line. Albanian tourism and investments is flourishing with an impressive growth (about 40 percent) in tourism last year.
The Albanian economy had the best growth in Europe last year, and this trend is expected to continue this year as well. Foreign investments in Albania have increased 59 percent this year.
The government has created an excellent environment to attract investors to Albania. Special emphasis was paid on constructions of roads and improving infrastructure. The efforts on improving the legal system to protect investors also proved significant. Also, many Western European companies have chosen to escape the high taxes in Europe by investing in Albania as the latter offers the best tax system in Europe with a 10 percent flat tax
Albania is one of the wealthiest lands in natural resources per square mile in the world with amazing mountains, beaches, lakes, rivers, forests, and rich soil. Underneath this land lies billions of proven barrels of oil, trillions of square yards of natural gas, gold, platinum, copper, the largest chrome reserves in Europe, bauxite, nickel, cobalt, magnesium, ores, marble, granite, coal and much more. Albania is rapidly building its infrastructure.
Results would have been much higher and more evident to its common people if the domestic politics would have been more mature or more experienced.
Albania has a much different face compared to 1990 when it left its former communist regime behind and started down the road to western democracy.
But the ever-squabbling politics very often has hindered its real progress.
Now as a NATO member country it has increased duties and responsibilities.
Besides, it is expecting to get candidate status from the European Union. That means a lot but also wants the tiny Balkan country, still one of Europe’s poorest, to do much work on its administration, rule of law, fight against organized crime and corruption.