TIRANA, Jan. 4 – These are some of the events that characterized Albania’s economic life during 2006..
January: World Bank sets $196 million for Albania in the next four years.
February: Rehabilitated bridge to Mother Teresa International Airport made by the Hochtief group, or Tirana Airport Partners Corporation that is managing the airport. Government creates the Albanian Agency for Business Promotion. Central Bank of Albania (BoA) presents the monetary plan for 2006 BoA creates the office of information of crediting. Albania-Croatia business forum held in Tirana.
March: Microsoft launches the Albanian version. National conference on the strategy for hydro-carbures held in Tirana to present the plan until 2015. Conference on strengthening cooperation in Southeastern Europe held in Tirana Government liberalizes issuing licenses for fuels. Conference on Albanian immigrants’ remittances held in Puglia, Italy. Albania-Macedonia business forum held in Tirana. American Chamber of Commerce and Greek Chamber of Commerce hold in Tirana conference on business legal aspects in Southeastern Europe
April Albania signs with Greece a deal on the cooperation in posts and electronic communication. Italy gives Albania a 15.3 million Euro loan for Vlora port rehabilitation. ASG Powers introduces project to build a power station and re-gasification center in Seman, Fier. Canadian company Saxson to invest $230 million for Patos-Marinze oil field rehabilitation
May: Crans Montana Forum held in Tirana. Albania signs the agreement on the railway cooperation at the meeting of the Southeast European Cooperation Program held in Salonika, Greece. Government passes the national plan of transport. Albania and Israel sign an agreement on air cooperation. An inter-border memorandum with Montenegro signed in Shkodra for the cooperation in the Shkodra Lake.
Deloitte Czech Republic company selected in an international tender to audit the privatization of Albtelecom to the Turkish Calik company. Albania signs the protocol of cooperation in energy exchange with Macedonia. SanPaolo Imi group in Italy buys public shares of the Albanian-Italian Bank. Government reduces electricity price by 33 percent for business, according to Prime Minister Sali Berisha.
June: KESH creates a task force to study its restructuring. Conference on competition and public assistance held in Tirana. Albania-Slovenia economic forum held in Tirana. Albania-Malaysia economic forum held in Tirana.
July: Italy gives 21.7 million Euro loan for the rehabilitation of the Shkodra-Hani I Hotit road segment. No more customs tariffs with Kosova
August: U.S. company Bechtel won the international tender for the rehabilitation of the Rreshen-Kalimash road segment, the most difficult part of the Durres-Kukes-Morine road link. National Agency of Natural Resources created.
September: British Medoil plc sign agreement on hydro-carbures. Central European Initiative (CEI) conference on energy held in Tirana. Lower cost tariffs for mobile phone calls. Berisha presents Albania, 1 Euro project idea. The Economist Intelligence Unit holds conference in Tirana
October: Government signs the deal with Bechtel company for the work on Rreshen-Kalimash road segment. Albania and Kosova sign agreements of cooperation in energy.
November: Albania signs the CEFTA membership in Brussels, Belgium. CEI economic Forum held in Tirana
December: European Investment Bank gives an 18 million Euro loan for the rehabilitation of the Durres port, building a new terminal for ferries’ passengers.
Free Trade Agreement with Turkey signed. BoA passes report on monetary goals for 2007.
