German ambassador to Albania Carola Mller-Holtkemper said the legal framework, fight against corruption and VAT reimbursement remained a challenge for Albania
TIRANA, June 21 – Perspectives for investment and trade, export potentials, infrastructure, environment and tourism were the focus of a German-Albanian economic conference held in Tirana this week where German enterprises discussed opportunities to increase cooperation.
More than 300 business and government representatives from Germany, Austria, Kosovo, Montenegro and Slovenia participated in the two- day event in Tirana organized by the German-Albanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Albania (DIHA.
Addressing the forum, Prime Minister Sali Berisha invited German businesses to particularly consider investing in the energy and mining sectors, promising a further reduction in barriers and bureaucracy.
“Current data show the cost of renewable energy is considerably lower than in other countries. Another important sector is also the mining industry and mountain tourism,” said Berisha, also hailing Germany’s role in Albania’s development during the past 20 years.
“In the past two decades Germany has been a top donor in Albania committed in hundreds of projects in different fields which has been a crucial factor in Albania’s transformation.”
Stressing the satisfaction and optimism of German investors in Albania, German ambassador to Albania Carola Mller-Holtkemper said the legal framework, fight against corruption and VAT reimbursement remained a challenge for Albania.
Annete Kasten, the executive director of the German-Albanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Albania (DIHA) has recently said German companies view Albania a top country in the region for their investments.
Few weeks ago, DIHA introduced the findings of a survey conducted with German-Albanian businesses operating in Albania revealing that despite concerns, some 81 percent of the companies continue preferring Albania as a country to do business and would pick it up again to invest again if they were given the opportunity.
German-Albanian companies perceive economic, legal and administrative factors in Albania as highly negative. In a survey conducted by the German-Albanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Albania (DIHA) companies said they perceived fight against corruption and criminality as a top issue.
A top donor in energy, water supply and sewerage, as well as support to SMEs, Germany is a key trade partner for Albania. Germany is currently Albania’s second most important destination for textile exports and the top destination for the exports of medicinal plants.
German companies in Albania are actively engaged in other important sectors such as transport, construction, production and retail sales.
