Honorable colleagues, Ministers,

Honorable representatives of the diplomatic corps,

Ladies and gentleman,

 

Promoting Albania, as a country of yet untapped potential in various fields, remains a priority of our foreign policy.

Surely, this promotion is not merely a list of advantages, but rather a task related to the creation of conditions and the right perception in foreign investors, that Albania is a country worth investing in.

The financial crisis of 2008 which affected Europe did not spare Albania. In particular, the crisis that gripped Italy and Greece, which are not only our main trade partners (2/3 of the trade), but also countries where around 1.2 million Albanians live and work, hampered the development of Albanian economy.

In these 25 years of transition, Albanian economy has been characterized by spectacular successes and failures, where monopolies and oligopolies reflect the model of quick and often unfair enrichment.

Therefore nowadays, citizens’ expectations to the country’s economic development are inversely correlated to their patience for a better life.

Our government, already in the third year of its mandate, realized that this transition can be completed by creating optimal conditions for a better business climate.

The last 3 years have been characterized by substantial reforms aimed at economic growth and improvement of business climate.

The new legal framework on tourism, foreign investments, public-private partnership and free economic areas are just some of the reforms undertaken to boost economic development.

Meanwhile, the fiscal consolidation program launched in cooperation with the IMF has been accompanied by thorough reforms on public finance management, energy sector and pension system, which have in turn created conditions for increased entrepreneurial confidence.

Thanks to these measures, the country’s economic growth reached 2.6% in 2015 and expectations remain positive for this year (3, 4%).

Clearly, economic growth could be higher, but lower prices of oil and minerals in global markets and the ongoing financial crisis in Italy and Greece remain some of the main obstacles.

Obtaining the EU candidate country status has served as a strong incentive to continue on the path of structural reforms, with a view to improving business climate.

But the path of Albania and the WB region towards the EU must go through regional economic development. In this context, the Berlin Process acquires special importance, for it focuses on one of our region’s problems, the infrastructure and energy interconnection.

The MFA, through its network of diplomatic missions in the world and in cooperation with line institutions within the country has paid special attention to the further development of economic relations.

Perhaps investing in Albania is not easy, especially nowadays, when confrontation between financial rigorosity and economic stimulus is not just a showdown of opinions, but two viewpoints on different models of a European economy, still in search of its place in an increasingly interdependent world.

The role of economic diplomacy is versatile and provides for commitments related to foreign trade, promotion of the country’s economic interests, raise of investors’ awareness on current opportunities, negotiation and reach of economic and trade agreements as well as cooperation for the elimination of differences.

But all of the above cannot be fully accomplished without rule of law in economy, fighting corruption, clearly defining property rights and without sufficiently improving the country’s infrastructure.

Swiss business success stories show that so far, the investment path in Albania has been an arduous one.

In these difficult circumstances, as Swiss writer Friedrich Dürrenmatt stated, “Whoever is content with the world, and who profits from its lack of justice, does not want to change it.”

Change for Albania implies both the rule of law and the restoration of lacking confidence.

It is precisely this change that we nourish and seek to encourage every day.

Thank you!