Infrastructure – the main pillar of the budget

TIRANA, Nov. 15 – The Ministry of Public Works, Transportation and Telecommunication is one of the main beneficiaries of the 2007 budget, with a toal of 40.3 billion lek, out of which 90.5 percent are allocated to investments. The news was given by Minister Lulzim Basha to the Parliamentary Commission of Production, Trade and Industry. This Commission had convened to discuss in a detailed way the 2007 budget. The Minister also compared the data to last year. The general funds to the Ministry have increased by 30 percent, investments have the most significant increase by 32 percent, salary fund have increased by 20 percent and other current funds have increased by five percent according to Basha.
Transportation and road infrastructure have been declared to be the absolute priorities of the budget reflecting the economic concerns of the current administration. In their budget presentations Prime Minister Berisha and Finance Minister Ridvan Bode have explained that infrastructure investments are the openly sustainable plan for long term development. Two are the main areas that these investments will be focused according to BAsha. The first is the completion of segments in the major artery: Durres-Kukes-Morine, planed to be complete by 2010. Thus segments, Milot-Rreshen (26 km), Kalimash-Kukes-Morine (29km) and Rr촨en – Kalimash(45 km), will take financial priority. Eight billion leks are allocated to these segments for 2007. The second priority are the touristic roads throughout the country, in Durr쳬 Divjaka, Seman, Patok, Velipoja, Sh쯧jin, Spille, etc,. The Trans-Balkans road of Vlora has been allocated 486 million leks. Other segments that will be prioritized are Dh쳭i-Himar롡nd Himar뮓arand묠with corresponding funds of 200 million leks.