World Bank to organize conference on development economics in Albania

TIRANA, April 14 – The World will sponsor the first annual Albania -World Bank Conference on Development Economics in May.
This conference is intended to be an annual event focusing on different development themes each year. This first year the conference will address aspects of Albania’s growth and transition, focusing on “Labor market restructuring and the development of a competitive labor force in Albania”.
Some of the conference topics being considered include: labor costs, taxation and informality; agriculture, rural labor market trends and competitiveness;skill gaps, education and training policies; financing basic services for a competitive labor force; poverty analysis; unemployment and labor market analysis; social protection; information society; migration; small business issues, including access to credit and technologies.
The conference will include presentations and discussions of recent analytical work by the World Bank, as well as work by local and regional government agencies, development partners, academic institutions, think tanks and NGOs.
To this end, the World Bank is seeking papers, published or unpublished, regarding the above topics. Papers should already be completed by the time of submission. Also, papers should be submitted, preferably in English or Albanian versions with abstracts in English, will also be reviewed. Selected authors should be prepared to make a summary presentation during the conference. No honoraria will be provided, but some transportation and lodging costs may be accommodated. The World Bank reserves the right to accept or reject papers for inclusion in the conference.(Tirana Times Staff)