An interview with Gunther Fehlinger, GIZ GmbH consultant
Tirana Times
May 5, 2012
Tirana Times: Please tell us a bit about your background and how you became interested in working with Albaniaō
Fehlinger: I was first in Albania inMay1998 fora short mission asa student leader and the situation was quitedifficult back then.I wasworking in Brusselsנfirst for BusinessEurope and thenas an Adviser to aMember of the European Parliament from Austriafocused on SMEs in Central andSouth Eastern Europe. This helped me keep in touch with Albania. In 2002 my wife got an assignmentfor UNMIKand in 2005I moved as well from Brussels to Pristina working as anexpert for theSmall and Medium Company frameworkbased in the Ministry of Trade there.During 2007 I wasasked by an Austrian investor if I wanted to live and work in Albania. I saidyes and sinceearly 2008 we are based here. I remember driving through snow and icefrom Pristinavia Skopje and arriving in Mediterranean Tirana and liked it from the very first day.
Tirana Times: One of the projects you are involved in is ASAנthe Austrian Society Albania. In which specific ways does this NGO aim to facilitate cultural exchange? And how does this, in turn, seek to contribute to Albania’s European process?
Fehlinger: A lot of internationals here are complaining about a lot ofissues hereآut just complaining is notgood enough. Together with somegood Austrian and Albanian friends coming back from Austria westarted this NGO lastyear and wehope it is good contribution to the social life of Austrians here in Tirana.ASA’s slogan is “At home in Albania” and indeed we are here 10 of 12 months and in a way it is a privilegebut it also a key part of life quality to meet and talk withyour friends and compatriots from back home.Thisyearwe are using the 100years celebration ofAlbaniatoorganize events and a conferenceto which weaim to invite public persons and discuss openly about relevant issues. Austria can servein some ways as role model as we have as well a bitter political divide for decades but we overcame it during the accession process in theearly 90s anddeveloped a kind ofnationalconsensus for EU accession.We are a small NGO but within our limits we want tocontribute and we Austrianshope to be considered asfriends and partners in this process.
For example, the highlights of theyear include the round table with Minister Genc Pollo on bilateral relations and thediscussion withMayor Lulzim Basha onthe future of Tirana. The discussionswere really lively andwe are grateful for theopportunity to have open exchange with decision-makers. At the same time, however, the challenge will be to organize meaningful celebrations of the 100years of Albanian Austrian relations with a focus less on folklore but more on the taskahead to ensure Albania is equalpartner of Austriainside theEuropean Union.
Tirana Times: You are also working with GIZ GmbH, and more specifically its SME program. What initiatives have been undertaken to assist SMEs in Albania so far?
Fehlinger: Since the start of 2012 I am working as a contracted consultant for SME policy by GIZ, the German Development Agency.It isa major donor for Albania and a great organization to work for. The focus isto support SMEs and business associations in the IT, tourism and the textile sector. The maintool is tobuild capacity withinAlbanian business associationsנwith ATA (the Albanian Tourism Association) asa role modelנand to provide Technical Assistance toAIDA, theone stop shop for allSME support and FDIpromotion.
Tirana Times: Have these initiatives been affected by the difficult economic phase that many European countries are experiencing?
Fehlinger: No, if anything the crisis has led to more international support for theSouthern Balkan countries. As well it has focused mindson the value of economicand financial stability. Albania is in this respectamong the best in the region and has sailed well throughdifficult waters.
Tirana Times: While certainly much has been accomplished by your work and GIZ GmbH, can you identify any critical issues that Albania could focus on in the coming years?
Fehlinger: Albania needs a national consensus for EU Integration and to work hard to achieve this key objective. I would recommend as well developing the common market with its neighbors Macedonia, Montenegro and Kosovo to offer local and international investors a larger market and consumer base. On the economic side I would recommend a new growth model focused on SMEs as they are the key to promote jobs, growth and prosperity.
