Foreign companies transfer 79 mln euros in Q1

TIRANA, June 21 – Foreign companies operating in Albania transferred 79 million euros in profits during the first quarter of 2010, continuing the growing trend of foreign currency outflow. Central bank data show the amount is 20 percent higher than the first quarter of the previous year.
Foreign companies operating in Albania transferred a record 364 million euros of profits from Albania last year, growing by six times compared to a couple of years ago before the global financial crisis.
Meanwhile, foreign direct investment (FDI) continued its growth even in the first quarter of this year. Central bank data FDI reached 154 million euros in the January-March period, increasing by 34 million euros year-on-year.
FDI in March 2010 was 65 million euros, 19 million euros more than the previous month and 21 million euros more year-on-year.