EBRD visits Tirana on further investment

TIRANA, April 16 – A senior EBRD delegation, led by Varel Freeman, First Vice-President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), began a two-day visit to Tirana on Thursday to underscore the importance the EBRD attaches to the development of the country and the Bank’s support for the Albanian authorities and the people. The EBRD is committed to its continued support for the process of transition and economic reform in Albania. The EBRD officials will use this opportunity to explore how the EBRD can help boost investments in the country, both in the public and the private sector.
The EBRD is placing an increasing focus on the Western Balkans in order to support the development and economic growth of the whole region.
The Bank is committed to being an important partner to local and foreign businesses in the areas of energy generation, distribution and transmission, transport – in particular ports and railways, municipal infrastructure, agribusiness and other sectors and to furthering cooperation to promote important projects and economic growth in the country. The EBRD will continue to work with the financial sector to develop a wider range of products and to increase financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in order to strengthen the private sector.
Active in the country since 1993, EBRD investments to date amount to more than 386 million euros and the Bank has helped generate a further 857 million euros from other sources. The majority of investments are in key sectors including power and energy, general industries, financial institutions and the private sector.(Tirana Times Staff)