The German funded project is expected to begin in the first months of 2011
PRISHTINA, Dec. 14 – Albania will start building a new interconnection line early next year linking the country to neighbouring Kosovo in an effort to integrate and strengthen energy systems, Albanian deputy PM and Economy and Energy Minister Ilir Meta said at a forum focusing on aid to northern Albanian flood-stricken inhabitants held on Tuesday in Prishtina.
“The integration of the Kosovo and Albanian energy systems is a common priority because the electricity generation opportunities in Albania and Kosovo are different but complementary,” said Meta, adding that German-funded transmission line project will be a major investment and a powerful instrument to integrate both systems.
The KfW-funded project expected to begin in the first months of 2011 comes after implementation of the 400 kw Tirana-Podgorica interconnection line, linking Albania to Macedonia, which is in its final phase.
Expressing the Albanian government’s commitment to remove all trade barriers with Kosovo, Meta said that the completion of the Durres-Kukes highway linking the two countries in the shortest possible way had cut both “travel distance and economic costs.”
Kosovo European Integration Minister Besim Beqaj said the potential to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries was bigger. “A bigger stimulus is needed so that the economies of both countries strengthen their cooperation, become economically integrated and overcome minor barriers.”
Kosovo businesses had previously complained about prolonged customs procedures delaying the free movement of goods, calling for their simplification and setting up joint customs control teams.
The meeting held in Prishtina was an initiative of the Kosovo and Albanian chambers of commerce to express their solidarity with the northern Albanian people in the Shkodra and Lezha regions affected by floods after prolonged heavy rainfall.
The Kosovo government donated 1 million euros to assist the inhabitants, some of whose house were flooded for the fifth time in a row during this year.
Data show exports to Kosovo have also registered a sharp increase during this year ranking the neighbouring country the second most important destination of Albanian exports with 8.4 billion lek during the first 10 months of this year, up 63 percent compared to the same period last year.
The Durres Port Authority has also opened its first representation office in Kosovo capital, Prishtina, in an effort to increase trade exchanges with the neighbouring country following the construction of the new highway cutting distance between the two countries to 2.5 hours. Ragip Grainca, the representative of the Durres Port Authority in Prishtina is optimistic more than half of Kosovo imports and exports will be handled in Durres port by next year.
