Tax-free opportunities offered for mountain investments

TIRANA, June 1 – Prime Minister Sali Berisha has invited Albanian and foreign companies to invest in Albania’s underdeveloped mountain tourism, offering them a tax-free policy for up to 8 years. The announcement came on Wednesday during a government meeting where he said that the inter-ministerial committee on tourism would soon approve a package on mountainous areas currently lacking investments which excludes investors from all taxes for a period of 7 to 8 years. Unveiling Albania’s mountain tourism resources, Berisha said coastal areas and lowlands made up only 22 percent of Albania’s territory and that Albania could become a developed country only if every corner is developed. However, potential investors remain skeptical of the profitability of the investment, he added. Albania’s only decent investments in mountain tourism can be found in the Llogara Pass, in Voskopoja and in the northern Theth and Valbona areas where some hostels have been made available for visitors to enjoy the unique natural beauties these sites offer. Berisha also called for measures to make use of all possible tours, religious pilgrimages and other events, in order to promote Albania internationally. Prime Minister Berisha also announced his government would cooperate with Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus in the micro credit system in an attempt to address the strengthening of poor areas and women. The microcredit system will also support the national program of olive and nut trees.