The 21st Century has its own nomads. Unlike the nomads of earlier centuries vested with a veil of poetry and mysticism, who traveled the world in search of freedom and hedonistic pleasures resulting from it, the modern nomads are well equipped professionals with a clear objective: To hunt down and collect the most important commodity of our era–information. Albania, with its emerging economy and increasing exposure to globalization, has become their latest destination.
Tirana Times met with Leandro Slovinski (Brazil), Sara Danni (Italy) and Boudou Gueffai (Canada), who have been here in Tirana for two months. The team works for World Investment News, a leading international news agency that produces economic country reports for, among other medias, the American magazine US NEWS & WORLD REPORT. These reports consist of a number of interviews with the President, the Prime Minister, key government officials and business leaders in order to portray and enhance the current image and investment opportunities that Albania has to offer. First they are colleagues and friends; they also form a small family since they work, live and enjoy their time together in Tirana.
What is like to work for an international media press?
We define ourselves as CITIZENS OF THE WORLD. In today’s society we represent the virtues of globalization to connect the West to East and the North to the South. Our work ethics are tied to virtues that include trade opportunities, increased access to technology and markets, social justice, democracy, education and health in different emerging countries in the world.
Our role is to portray economic benefits and opportunities to potential American and European investors and to review a country’s economic performance. Our core area is to ‘link partners for business opportunities’, with the aim of promoting global markets for foreign direct investment.
What were your expectations of Albania before you got here? How would you define your professional experience in Albania so far? How is our country different from other places you have visited?
We always study, research and get very familiar with the countries we target. As citizens of the world, we have a deep knowledge and are skilled to easily understand cross-cultural differences. Albania is a very interesting country, not only for its strategic location in the Balkan region, but also for its cultural and historical background. Within the region, we had a previous experience for a project in Kosovo, but each country hides its own treasures, that is why the title of our report of Albania is “HIDDEN TREASURE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN”. We are pleased with the warm welcoming and support from its charming and devoted people to go forward and make their country better. Our expectations were surpassed on the right way, which give us even more strength to be here working and aiming for a good cause, that is to promote Albania to the rest of the world.
A good part of your project is interviewing important public figures and politicians, such as the Albanian President Bamir Topi, and major businessmen in the country, foreign and domestic. How do you proceed in arranging interviews? Which interviews would you say have been the most interesting?
Based on our experience in the market and our credibility coming from one of the most prestigious business magazines in the US, we always create and maintain strong relationships with important public figures such as ambassadors, ministers and presidents in many countries. Our professionalism and the qualification of our work allow us the privilege to be referred by important public figures and open doors to the most successful and high decision makers. Indeed we had the honor to meet the President Bamir Topi, who strongly supported and showed interest in our project, which he qualified as an unique opportunity to spread the potential of all the different aspects of Albania’s economy.
We want to take this opportunity to fully thank the Minister of Economy, Trade and Energy, Mr. Dritan Prifti; the Minister of Public Works, Transportation and Telecommunication, Mr. Sokol Olldashi; and their cabinet for being supportive and helpful to direct us towards the major economic sectors of the country. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ilir Meta, was also one of all the politicians we had the honor to meet and interview for the purpose of this ongoing project. It was a unique experience to interview each one of them and share their own point of view of the economy and their personal contribution to raise the international image of Albania.
We still didn’t meet the Prime-Minister of Albania, Mr. Sali Berisha, but we are sure he will grant us an interview soon.
You are yet to complete your project on Albania, but based on the material you have gathered so far and the interviews you have done, could you give us a review of the Albanian economy today? What are its strengths and weaknesses?
This project consists of covering all major sectors of the economy. What makes it interesting for Albania is the rapid transfer from a social to a market-based economy. In this case, economic output seems to increase, and this contributes to a beneficial economic growth. As an international media press, we recognize the importance of budgets, education, strong technological base, and the stability of the macro-economic environment, as well as the notion that government intervention is an essential component of the industrialization process of Albania. The future of Albania is very promising, thou to keep in mind to implement ethical practices and high standards for professionalism.
Based on your last answer, how do you visualize the development of the Albanian market/economy in the future? We would like to hear some perspective about the country and you guys are more than qualified to give a good opinion.
There is a major positive change in the restructuring of the major political institutions in order to permit greater democracy and accountability. Moreover, it brings brighter ideas to pursuit original goals of development in Albania. Long-term, perhaps this may allow the country more than an increase in foreign direct investment, but rather to make a dream come true by showing the world that Albania is here today working hard for its membership in the European Union.
It’s time for the final message. Could you give us a message for the people in Albania and also for foreign investors who might be interested to come and invest in Albania?
Albania is a market-model of economic reformation. This country has proven to be efficient in many sectors and its people will keep working towards the equitable path of development. We strongly believe in many potential business opportunities considering the current and unexploited offers in the market. It is a nation with a young educated population, which will ensure to fulfill the needs of qualified professionals. Not only for businessmen, but travelers seeking breathtaking landscapes and sandy beaches will also find their perfect. Albania is moving towards a more adequate functional system and is willing to adapt to the west by opening its market and keeping its economy based on a well-sustained and principled mode of development. You would always feel welcomed in this country and Albania will soon surprise the world with its hidden treasure of the Mediterranean.
