EBRD offers new professional support to Albanian businesses

TIRANA, Sept.13 – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on Wednesday launched the Business Advisory Services (BAS) Programme in Albania, financially supported by the Government of the Netherlands, which, as title tells, helps local businesses this time with local consultants. This programme aims to enhance the development and growth of the Albanian SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises), contributing at the same time to the professional development of the Albanian business consultants. The EBRD covers up to 50 percent of expenses for consulting services and offers grants up to 10,000 euro. The programme will assist small and medium enterprises through engagement of suitable Albanian consultants to help solve their business problems. It will especially support short term, specific objective driven projects with rapid pay back. Eligible enterprises have to demonstrate the potential for growth, their need for business advice and a capacity to absorb such assistance. Enterprises can expect the BAS Programme support in a broad range of areas, such as market research, strategic planning, information technologies, quality management and environmental protection, business plans, new technology implementation, organizational improvements as well as other areas of business advice.
In her opening speech at the Albanian BAS Programme launching event, Ms. Charlotte Salford, said that “the BAS Programme will operate from local office in Tirana and that the first projects are already underway. So far over 600 BAS projects have been successfully completed in the Western Balkans alone and the Dutch funding has been instrumental in starting up the Programme in Albania as well as extending BAS operations in other countries of the region.”.
Mr. Hans Sprokkreeff, Director of the Netherlands Office, EBRD, emphasized the Netherlands Government commitment to support the Albanian private sector, especially in the SMEs sector. “The further progress of SMEs in Transition countries through business advice and credits will help the consolidation and development of a viable middle class, leading toward a self sustainable economic growth for these countries in their way to European integration”- he said. Cas van der Horst, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Albania underlined that “support to SME growth would be crucial for the development of Albanian economy, by increasing its competitiveness and creating new jobs. Private sector development is one of the biggest challenges for Albania and for all countries in southeastern Europe aiming EU integration”- Mr. van der Horst said.
In 10 years from its inception, the BAS Programme has carried out over 5,000 projects in 19 countries with a total of 57 million multi-donor funding.