The Prime Ministers of Bulgaria and Albania greeted the participants in the Bulgarian – Albanian Business Forum

 

The Chairman of the Union of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Albania Mr. Ilir Zhilla opened the forum and presented Albania as a good business and investment destination due to its low taxes and favourable conditions. He said that the VAT on imported road construction machinery and equipment will be removed soon. Mr. Zhilla said that his country needs additional investments in infrastructure. Albanian companies are willing to cooperate with the Bulgarian business. He also pointed out the excellent cooperation between the Union of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Albania and BCCI – the two organizations maintain constant contact with each other. 

 

The Secretary General of BCCI Vasil Todorov thanked the hosts of the forum for the excellent organization. He said that the Republic of Albania is one of Bulgaria’s most promising trade and investment partners in the Western Balkans. Trade turnover between the two countries has increased - the balance is traditionally positive for Bulgaria. In the last 10 years Bulgaria ranked 4th and 5th among Albania’s foreign trade partners. After Bulgaria’s accession to the EU, Albania increased trade with its neighbour countries but not with Bulgaria due to the imposed duties on some groups of products. 

 

Companies reckon the Economic Cooperation Agreement signed between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Bulgarian Government as a positive step in the development of the bilateral economic relations. 

 

In the period 1996 – 2011, Bulgaria invested EUR 9.9 million in Albania. The largest investments were made in the food industry, banking sector, extractive industry, construction and infrastructure, etc. The first Albanian hydroelectric power plant built with Bulgarian participation is about to be launched. The Secretary General of BCCI Vasil Todorov reminded that the two organizations were successfully working together in the Association of Balkan Chambers /ABC/ and the Business Council of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation /BSEC/. One of the topics on which the participants in the BSEC Business Council agreed, was the need to finish the common transport corridors which link the Balkan countries. 

 

The Prime Minister of Bulgaria Boyko Borisov welcomed the participants in the forum and said that Bulgarian business needs to be flexible and to make well-thought and successful investments in Albania. He emphasized that Bulgaria has good fiscal policy, low taxes, the lowest state debt and modern infrastructure. The Prime Minister confirmed Bulgaria’s good neighbourly relations will all countries in the region. He said that on Wednesday he would visit the newly-constructed second bridge across the Danube River and expressed hope that Bulgaria will cooperate just as successfully with Albania with regard to Corridor VIII /Sofia – Skopje – Tirana/ as it did with its Romanian colleagues. He said that the Government will do its best to help Albania become a EU member state. As part of the official visit, tomorrow the Mayor of Sofia Yordanka Fandakova and her Albanian counterpart the Mayor of Tirana will sign a Memorandum of Understanding. PM Borisov said that the Economic Cooperation Agreement signed that day was a clear signal that the governments will serve as a warrantor supporting the businesses from the two countries. 

 

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania Sali Berisha also addresses the Albanian and Bulgarian companies that took part in the forum. According to him, the main goal of the forum was to allow the businessmen from Sofia and Tirana to establish direct contacts. The two governments wished to promote cooperation between the two countries in all sectors of industry. Besides, the political relations between Albania and Bulgaria were excellent. He said that the business will need support to achieve economic results. PM Berisha promised that the Albanian government would do all in its powers for Albanian business to invest in Bulgaria which provides excellent opportunities for success. 

 

Albania is a country with small but dynamic market and many opportunities for doing business. According to the European Commission, Albania’s economic growth exceeds those of the other countries in the region 4 times. Prime Minister Berisha informed that reforms are taking place to reduce bureaucracy for companies – it is easy to obtain licenses and to start own business; those services will soon be available electronically. There is excellent proportion between wages and productivity. In the last 2 years Albanian exports doubled. Foreign investments also increased several times. In the period 2004 – 2011 a total of 4 million tourists visited Albania.  

 

According to PM Berisha it is safe to invest in energy. The country plans to build 44 hydroelectric power plants. More than 80 Bulgarian and Albanian companies took part in the forum. 

 

Today the business delegation will visit the largest Albanian port Durres. 

 

23.10.2012