Gov’t to focus on development of industrial areas

TIRANA, July 26 – Albania’s government plans to turn its attention to the development of industrial areas, Economic Development Minister Arben Ahmetaj said this week, as he was reporting on the ministry’s first 300 days in office.
The minister said that the development was needed in line with the efforts of the new government to promote domestic exports.
“There are 12 industrial areas and zero function. Industrial centers are key to employment and development. We are working on a support package for investors interested in developing these areas that until now haven’t been used. During the next 300 days we will have the working plan ready so these investors know what is going on and what is there,” said the minister.
The new government, in power since mid-September last year, is making strenuous efforts to promote exports in domestic light industry like clothing and shoes production – as well as agriculture.
The industrial zones are to come as a resurrection of the industrial areas that were abandoned and destroyed following the fall of the former communist regime in 1990.
Though the legal context has been completed, there has been little interest from foreign investors so far. International reports show they fear, among other things, corruption.