Crans Montana Forum in Albania hails country’s progress

TIRANA, May 14 – The second session of the Crans Montana Forum in Tirana, Albania was launched Thursday and is to he last until Saturday morning, bringing together local authorities with scores of private and institutional international investors.
“Albania is working hard towards rule of law, economic development and European integration. Indeed Albania is part of a strategic region which must, as soon as possible, be integrated into the European Union. This is a matter to assure peace, stability and democracy,” said a forum’s statement on the meeting.
The forum, presented in an informal and conversational atmosphere, reviews the opportunities for trade and investment in Albania. Later, a regional dimension was added as South Eastern European Countries needed to work more closely to coordinate regional infrastructure development, trade liberalization, private sector development, energy security as well as social cohesion and education.
The Crans Montana Forum in Albania is a unique opportunity for businesses from around the world to meet with the government of Albania, government officials from South Eastern Europe and all key decision makers from the region, according to the statement.
Present in the Forum was also Kosova’s Prime Minister Agim Ceku.
Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha considered this year’s forum as very important during his speech in which he discussed the government’s progress and reforms. Berisha said that Albania had already signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union and was seriously committed to enacting the interim agreement.
“Albania has given clear proof of its contribution to the internal, regional and wider security concerns,” said Berisha, who also stressed that the country expected to become a full NATO member next year after the Bucharest summit.
The Albanian premier also mentioned his executive’s efforts to create a favorable environment for foreign direct investment through lowering tax tariffs, instituting a flat tax, lowering social insurance tariffs and the price of energy for big companies. He said that very soon authorities would initiate a one stop shop system for the direct registering of new businesses in an effort to fight bureaucracy.
Focusing on the digital era in the country was another important step, or the Archimedes’s tool, as Berisha called it.
“Albania offers real opportunities,” he said, mentioning that the country has the youngest and cheapest labor force in Europe.
Albania also has a very strategic geographic position as the main entrance to the Balkans. The country has significant water resources which may be exploited by investors, as well as sizable mineral deposits.