E-Newsletter 2021, Issue III

December 2021

Dear Reader!

We are glad to share with you our Electronic Newsletter, reflecting different actions taken by FIAA Members, as well as views, insights and approaches towards the business climate!

With 2021 coming to a close, we take this opportunity to send You our heartfelt Greetings and wish You Health and Prosperity for the New Year ahead!

It is not unfair to say that Year 2021, has given us back a lot of optimism. We have seen the growth come back to Albania, despite remaining impact from the pandemic. We have a new government in place and provided stability. Nevertheless, all of us have struggled hard to recover our business and get back to a normal business life. 

As the New Year 2022 is approaching, we continue to aspire for an improved business environment, further reforms, important progress and constructive changes. The start of the new government period has given us opportunity to present our legislative and regulatory proposals in our White Book earlier in Autumn. During 2022, we will continue to build on our leadership and line up our program through continuous communication within our network and with the authorities in the country giving our contribution for the challenges ahead. 

We thank you for your trust and cooperation with FIAA, growing stronger and evolving to better support the foreign business in Albania! 

Sincere wishes for success, prosperity and well-being!

This information is also available on our website: www.fiaalbania.al

Official Launching of the White Book 2021-2025

The Association of Foreign Investors in Albania (FIAA) presented the third edition of the White Book 2021-2025, a document for the improvement of the business climate in Albania. The presentation of the Book marked the 21st anniversary of the Association. The event was attended by Government, Diplomats, International Organizations as well as representatives of the foreign business community in the country. Published every 4 years, since 2013, the White Book is an appeal of foreign investors on the business climate in Albania and a transparent platform for dialogue with the authorities...Read more

FIAA participates in the meeting with European Commission officials on Albania's Economic Reform Program 2022-2024 (ERP)

The Albania’s Economic Reform Program 2022-2024 is currently under drafting process. A European Commission team from DG NEAR visited Albania in mid-November with the purpose to interact with the relevant stakeholders on business environment, challenges and opportunities, policies to promote entrepreneurship and attract FDIs, concerns on informality as well as impact to competitiveness...Read more

Introductory meeting with the New appointed Minister of State for the Protection of Entrepreneurship

FIAA’s Executive Director Ms. Marinela Jazoj met with the Newly appointed Minister of State for the Protection of Entrepreneurship Mrs. Edona Bilali. Minister Bilali confirmed the continuity of fruitful collaboration in support of the improvement of the business climate in the country....Read more

FIAA’s Executives met with Head of EU Delegation to Albania    

FIAA’s President Mr. Alvensleben and Executive Director Mrs. Jazoj met with Mr. Luigi Soreca, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Albania. Ambassador Soreca and Chairman Alvensleben highlighted the long cooperation among the two institutions...Read more

FIAA’s Management met with Head of EBRD in Albania  

FIAA’s President Dr. Constantin von Alvensleben and Deputy President Mrs. Rigela Gegprifti had a meeting with the New Head of EBRD in Albania Mrs. Ekaterina Solovova and Mrs. Endrita Xhaferraj, Principal Counsellor of Governance and Political Affairs....Read more

Competitiveness and Internationalization of Albanian MSMEs 

The Investment Council (IC) held a plenary meeting to discuss the opportunities and challenges related to the internationalization of Albanian Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs). The meeting was attended by all IC members and other representatives from the public and private sector and development agencies in the role of observer..Read more

As economy rebounds, Albania has opportunity to build a more Sustainable Growth Model

Albania’s economy, like other countries in the region, is recovering faster than expected after the historic recession created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the contraction of the economy by 4% in 2020, GDP growth is projected to reach 7.2% in 2021..Read more

EBRD steps up support for tourism and agribusiness in Albania

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), OTP Bank Albania and the Albania Agribusiness and Tourism Support Facility are stepping up their support for companies in the country’s agribusiness and tourism sectors.....Read more

Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Albania announces the Appointment of New CEO Mr. Alessandro D’oria

Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Albania announced the appointment of Alessandro D’Oria as the new Chief Executive Officer, effective from August 30, 2021. Mr. Alessandro D’Oria’s long experience and expertise in the Italian banking sector, in a highly competitive and complex financial market will further enhance the performance of Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Albania in the upcoming years.                 

For more information please visit: www.intesasanpaolobank.al

Raiffeisen Bank in partnership with Rural Credit Guarantee Foundation “RCGF”, to support Micro Business in Albania

Raiffeisen Bank Albania sh.a and Rural Credit Guarantee Foundation “RCGF”, have signed a guarantee agreement to support Micro Business in Albania in the amount of EUR 5 million. The Guarantee Facility agreement which limit can be further increased upon RBAL request, aims to facilitate access to finance for Micro Business in Albania in the form of Individual Guarantee Instrument for eligible loans and beneficiaries.                                                                     

For more information please visit: www.raiffeisen.al

PMI progresses on acquisition of three pioneering pharmaceutical companies to accelerate “Beyond Nicotine” vision

Philip Morris International (PMI) announced an unconditional offer to acquire the U.K. pharmaceutical company Vectura. Additionally, PMI received confirmation that all other conditions to the offer had been satisfied or waived. The company has extended the offer to allow for the tender of further shares. It follows the acquisitions of American inhaled drug specialist OtiTopic in August, followed by Danish pharmaceutical and well-being products manufacturer Fertin Pharma in September.                                                                                      

For more information please visit: www.pmi.com

ALBtelecom joins UN Women global initiative to empower women

ALBtelecom, the largest telecommunication corporation in Albania, signed the membership of in the Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs), a global gender equality initiative promoted by UN Women and the UN Global Compact. To announce this novelty to the public an event was organized at ALBtelecom Academy. Having a long history in the marketplace ALBtelecom has shown over the years a continuous commitment to promoting women in their work environments, thus setting inspiring records in the efforts for gender equality throughout the industry.                                                                                           

For more information please visit: www.albtelecom.al

Ericsson: One Albania receives best mobile network certification from umlaut

Ericsson technology is powering the best-performing mobile network across Albania, according to a new mobile benchmarking report. Umlaut, the global benchmarking company formerly known as P3, gave One Albania the ‘Best in Test’ award, as well as recognized the company for delivering the best-rated broadband coverage and user download experience, despite challenges of the pandemic.   

For more information please visit: www.ericsson.com

Interview with Mrs. Katia Stathaki, CEO of Vodafone Albania

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FIAA Board Directors met with the New Minister of Finance and Economy   

At the occasion of the appointment of the New Minister of Finance and Economy, FIAA’s Board Representatives, President Mr. Alvensleben, Deputy President Mrs. Gegprifiti and Executive Director Ms. Jazoj were received for a courtesy Meeting by the New Minister, Mrs. Delina Ibrahimaj...Read more

Ongoing Meetings on the Chapters of the European Integration Partnership Platform  

In frame of the discussions for the chapters of the European Integration Partnership Platform, FIAA’s representatives from the Membership have been highly active in the organized Working Groups...Read more

FIAA comments on the Fiscal Package 2022

In early November, the Ministry of Finance and Economy introduced the draft of the Fiscal Package 2022 during a Fiscal Council Meeting, which was shared for comments and concerns from the representatives of the Business Community....Read more

FIAA met with the Head of UK Trade Policy for the Western Balkans

FIAA’s Executive Director met with the Head of UK Trade Policy for the Western Balkans. The office  based in Belgrade covers the Western Balkan six countries, including Albania....Read more

Cooperation grounds with NORWEP

FIAA’s Executive Director Mrs. Jazoj and Statkraft Representatives have conducted a series of meetings with Mrs. Gunn Vick, Director of Hydro Power at NORWEP... Read more

FIAA renews its representatives in the Multi Stakeholder Group of the EITI Albania    

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative–EITI, is an international initiative with main object to develop and implement a mechanism for declaring revenues earned from the use of Natural Resources through Extractive Industries....Read more

Albania and UN renew commitment to joint work on Sustainable Development for the next five years

The Government of Albania and the United Nations Country Team in Albania announced their renewed commitment to a joint programme of work for the next five years this Monday, as Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj and UN Resident Coordinator Fiona McCluney signed the Albania-UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2022-2026...Read more

ABKONS

GIZ Albania has selected Abkons to implement its project "Nё fshat" in rural Albania, which aims to encourage people living in rural areas to diversify their economic activities and increase their income by implementing income generating activities (IGAs) in the #agriculture and #tourism sector.  Agriculture and the rural space are one of Albania's greatest assets.                                               

For more information please visit: www.abkons.com

Huawei sponsors Tirana INC with the intelligent device IdeaHub

Huawei is one of the main sponsors of Tirana Inc. and in support of this initiative it has donated to participating students the most innovative and intelligent device on the market, Huawei IdeaHub. The device with all its options, enriches the student mentoring sessions while navigating in this program. Present at this cooperation meeting were the co-founder of Preneur Amsterdam Mr. Arjan Goudsblom, representatives from Huawei in Albania and Executives of Tirana Inc., who discussed the advantages that the new information technology brings to the development of the country, mainly related to education.                                       

For more information please read: businessmag.al 

Membership to FIAA is open to all Foreign Investors, Representative companies and International Organizations working in Albania.

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