PM Berisha also reiterated the idea of the construction of a nuclear power plant in Albania
Tirana Times
TIRANA, Jan. 18 – Prime Minister Sali Berisha has invited Italian companies to seriously consider increasing their investments in Albania especially in the energy and tourism sectors. Speaking at a forum on the Albanian-Italian economic relations in Milan on Tuesday, Premier Berisha invited Lombardy region businessmen to participate in the hydropower plant (HPP) construction under concession contracts.
Albania plans to build 440 such plants of different sizes on concession. Some 220 contracts, mainly for small HPPs have already been signed.
Thanking Italy for the major support it has provided during the past 20 years to Albania, the PM said Italian investors will find in Albania a more developed infrastructure, a favourable business climate with low taxes and simple and fast licensing procedures.
“We have an initiative called Albania One Euro, which means that Italian or foreign investors can have their land contract for one euro for industrial, agricultural or tourism purposes,” said Berisha as quoted by his press office.
Berisha also reiterated the idea of the construction of a nuclear power plant in Albania. “We are open even to nuclear energy. I will do anything with Italian or other investors so that Albanians benefit from this energy, which is purer and more constant and I will keep this promise for my country,” said Berisha of the project which is seen with skepticism by Albanian experts and the public because of safety conditions.
The PM also invited Italian businessmen to consider investing in Albania tourism, describing Albania as “Switzerland with sea.”
“Italy is Albania’s main partner in all fields, in the foreign investments, imports, exports and I am very grateful to Italian investors working in Albania” said Berisha.
Premier Berisha’s visit to Milan came after an invitation by Milan mayor Letizia Moratti to participate in the Albania-Italy Economic Forum, organized by Milan Municipality, the region of Lombardy and the Albanian Union of Chambers of Commerce.
The Forum aimed at strengthening economic cooperation, by making a presentation of successful Italian projects in Albania in order to attract more Italian investments in Albania and deepen cooperation with the Albanian business. PM Berisha was accompanied by a group of 100 representatives of the Albanian business, who had the opportunity to meet with hundreds of representatives of the Italian enterprises, participating in the forum.
During his visit, Berisha also met senior officials of the Italian government and local power in the region of Lombardy.
According to Italy’s Confindustria lobby group, some 300 Italian companies operate in Albania, mainly operating footwear and garment manufacturing.
INSTAT data show Italy’s remained Albania’s main trade partner in November 2010 with 52.3 percent of total exports and 30 percent of imports. More than 80 percent of footwear and garment products manufactured in Albania, which are the country’s main export, go to Italy.
The Italian government projects in Albania are implemented by the Italian Development Cooperation. The long-standing Italian Development Cooperation commitment for Albania reflects the deep friendship between the two countries. The Italian Cooperation is acting in a number of areas, aligning its interventions to the national and sector strategies adopted by the Albanian Government and designing them in coordination with the other donors. With a financial commitment of 300 million Euro and with more than 70 initiatives, Italy is today the first bilateral donor and overall the third after the European Union and the World Bank. The Italian Development Cooperation supports the ongoing processes of institutional strengthening and socio-economic growth and assists Albania in its path to European Union membership, as stated in the new Development Cooperation Protocol for the years 2010-12.
