Businesses attended London seminar to improve their knowledge of Albania, its business climate and its potential
TIRANA, Dec. 17 – Hoping to establish direct ties between Albanian and British companies, the London Chamber of Commerce and the Albanian British Chamber of Commerce held the Albania Open for Business Seminar in the United Kingdom this week.
“It will gather all British companies that have expressed interest or that are present in Albania. Also we will have in the same room their colleagues from Albania in various areas of our country’s development, from the mining industry, agriculture, financial services, tourism and other services aimed at creating closer ties to further cooperation in the development of our country,” Zenel Hoxha, who heads the Albanian British Chamber of Commerce, told the Alsat television station.
Although there are already some large British companies operating in Albania, Mr. Hoxha said he hopes there will be further progress in 2010.
“Albania will be very attractive in years to come, and starting in 2010, we will see a greater British presence in the country,” Mr. Hoxha said.
The business event, held on Dec. 17, was the largest held so far between the two countries.
British products exported to Albania include specialized industrial machinery, medical and pharmaceutical products, power generating machinery and equipment, according the chamber of commerce.
Business opportunities also arise from the vast inflow of funding from international financial institutions such as the World Bank, EBRD and the EU.
According to the World Bank annual survey on “Doing Business 2009,” Albania has steadily improved its performance in recent years, and it is now ranked 86 out of 181 economies in terms of ease of doing business in the country ahead of other neighboring markets in the Balkans.
Businesses attended the seminar to improve their knowledge of Albania, its business climate and its potential. This event also gave delegates the opportunity to hear from high profile speakers about Albania’s huge potential and meet key contacts that will help their business achieve international success.
