TIRANA, Jan. 6 – Economy Minister Arben Ahmetaj said Tuesday the government expects a 3 percent GDP growth this year as a sign of the fruitful reforms they have undertaken since the Socialist-led government came to power in September 2013.
The minister said that more new jobs will come for Albanians after 81,000 they had secured last year, when the GDP growth was a mere 1 or 1.5 percent.
The government also said it had paid back some $360 million dollars to private companies that the former cabinet had delayed as arrears, something that will be followed with the same figure this year to complete the arrears not paid to companies.
This year authorities will focus fighting informality, Ahmetaj said.
That also includes efforts to under-report social insurance employees, which they say are missing some $100 million not only from private companies but also from state institutions.
A new pension structure will start this year when those earning more can also claim a higher pension when time comes.
New reforms will start in agriculture, health system, real estate, food industry and the like that will hopefully bring new and higher income and growth.
The government is preparing to start tenders for giving national roads by concession, thus releasing hundreds of millions of dollars the government may invest in other areas, according to the minister.
Ahmetaj said that 2014 was a very economically difficult year but still he considered it a success for the cabinet as it resumed the growth in economy after some harsh decisions and steps they took to cope with a dangerous financial crisis.
The agricultural sector of Albania is expected to record a growth of 5 percent in 2015 from 3 percent in 2014, Agriculture Minister Edmond Panariti said on Monday.
Panariti said a particular attention will be paid to expanding greenhouses areas, increasing production and exports standards especially to European Union countries.
The opposition Democratic Party disagrees with the government’s assesment. A representative said the government’s steps were clear failures that took the country back to high poverty levels.
The Democrats have criticized what they say are the government’s higher taxes and say the Socialist-led government is working to support businesses that are politically-affiliated to the government.
