Published on : 29 June 2016
Albania - Turkey, an intensive cooperation process


Speech of Prime Minister Edi Rama at the joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Turkey Binali Yildirim



Many thanks Dear Prime Minister!

I want to assure you, as a dearest friend of ours, that Albania and Albanians wherever they live are close to the people of Turkey in this day of sorrow. We are abreast with your government in the fight against the terrorist plague that kills and sheds blood in the name of a god that has no connection at all with God and the message of the prophets.

I would like to offer my deepest condolences, also on behalf of the Albanian people, to the families and relatives of the victims, and from here in Ankara, in this holy month of Ramadan, I tell them in unison with the touching hadith of the Prophet that "a true believer is the one who does not spread panic among mankind with the brutality of his language or strength of his arm."

These bright words, like every word and page of the holy books, were stained with blood and desecrated again last night – just like it happened on the bloody evening in Paris or in the similar massacre in Brussels – by the brutal killers of vulnerable pedestrians. But this time, they destroyed families who in this holy month dedicate themselves to peace and the prayers of Ramadan.

Therefore, if the Pope is right when he says that a third world war has started, the victory over the second one teaches us that no difference can justify people not coming together in front of barbarism that aims to destroy all the differences that make the world a place worth living in, and not fighting to make it better, more peaceful and freer.

Just like Prime Minister Yildirim, I am convinced that those who transformed this day of the holy month in a day of grief for Turkey, will never and ever halt this blessed country and the strength of the dreams and hopes of all of us, believers and non believers, united together around the table of humankind love.

Albania and Turkey have been together in this table of humankind love since a long time. We have seen with pleasure the entire panorama of the things that bind us and unite us, and we have also found that the potential to do more is overwhelming.

Together with Prime Minister Yildirim we are committed to carrying forward an intensive process of cooperation to further increase economic exchanges and trade, as well as exchanges in education and culture, so that what we nourish for each other as people and countries many not exceed what we realistically do in terms of economic services and trade exchanges.

Let me thank you once again Prime Minister for your generous hospitality, and for the fact that you stuck to the invitation, although on a such difficult day, fact that multiples my gratitude.

The Prime Minister said that I am his first guest since he took office. I told him that I am used to be the tallest guest in the countries I visit, but this is the first time I am the first guest, and I hope that together with my colleagues from Tirana we will bring you good luck in this task so difficult, but also so noble in serving Turkey, and among many other things the relations with Albania and Albanians who are inseparable friends with the Turkish people.

In addition to security issues, which of course are a matter of the day, did you talk about economic issues and the increased presence of Turkish investments in Albania?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: What the Prime Minister said is absolutely the essence of all the conversation we had together, as it was of the conversation I had earlier with President Erdogan, to whom also I expressed my condolences on the tragedy last night. Then we talked long about the great potential of this special relationship between Turkey and Albania, of the strategic partnership between the two countries that have so many things uniting them, and that together can do many more things.

Of course, in terms of economy Albania is more than a welcoming country, it is a country completely open for investments from Turkey in every sector. We talked about the banking sector. We also talked about the water sector. We talked about what we can do together in terms of projects, not just national ones, but also regional projects related to energy, and certainly in terms of bringing an increasing number of companies that create new jobs and benefit from a favourable fiscal system and a more favourable geographic proximity, so that we will be able to create together – I hope also with the direct contribution of the Turkish companies – new economic zones. We think that we are in the conditions where we can open a new page in this cooperation.

The proximity and security created in a relationship, where in terms of security we have successfully talked together the common challenges related to terrorism, or world peace – in the framework of NATO we have a complete success – we certainly are in the conditions to be totally successful also in this aspect, which is not easy because it took time to attract Turkish investors to our country where very few guaranties were offered until yesterday, and from where many Turkish companies fled away, because they were unhappy about the way they were treated.

***

Prime Minister Edi Rama was received in an official ceremony with military honours by Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, who said he was pleased to have the head of the Albanian government as the first prime minister to be hosted in Ankara after he took office a few weeks ago.

The common challenges in the field of security and economy were the main topics of conversation between the two prime ministers and the accompanying delegations.

Published on : 27 June 2016
Energy reform, meaningful results


OSHEE has introduced another new service for subscribers, the queue management system. Thanks to this system, any OSHEE subscriber will not have to wait any longer in the queue at the counters to pay the electricity bill. It is the system that manages the queue of clients who obtain a number in the information desk, until the moment that they make the payment. The new system is being implemented in the first 14 centres of Customer Care in the main cities of the country. Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by the Minister of Energy and Industry Damian Gjiknuri, and OSHEE Director Ardian Cela, visited one of the Customer Care Centres in Durres that is using the new service.

“The client obtains a ticket for the queue, and then goes to the counter to be delivered the services, whether it is an application or a complaint. The whole process is monitored with cameras and a vocal system”, Cela said.

After applying and submitting a complaint online, after the payment service delivered not only in the counters, in the post office and by phone, OSHEE will now deliver a new services that enhances the relation between the company and clients, the info desk or the online electronic counters.

“The next steps will be the alternative counters that have been launched since February. 950 thousand payment applications have been conducted, for an amount of 3 billion ALL. Info desks or smart desks have been placed in 18 business centres in different cities, where people can apply or submit complaints, which they can follow online. We are about to launch another application for smart phones, for payments and information”, OSHEE Director said.

According to Prime Minister Rama, the reforms undertaken to formalize and recovery the sector not only have transformed the company's relationship with customers, but have been transformed into new services for them. “Compared to where we started, I believe this is a revolution that begun when the major bleeding in the sector was stopped, and it has continued with the whole transformation process of the relation between the customers and the company. Now, we are at a moment when investments, that are a result of the contributions of everybody, are escalating. Actually, these investments are returned to the contributors, to the customers, who receive a better service that still needs improvement. These investments will eliminate once and for all the flat rate, and establish the condition according to which you pay for what you consume”, the Prime Minister said.

“I know that it hasn’t been easy”, the Prime Minister continued, “because it was a painful wake after a period of agony in this sector, during which we were neither alive not dead. By paying for what we consume, and with our support, all those who receive subsidies have not been affected by the removal of the flat rate, because we have allocated 16 million dollars per year.

The theory that poverty is fought with alimony is totally wrong, because alimony does nothing but recycles poverty. While reforms are painful in the first moment, but then they definitely bring a recovery and a sustainable social development of the economy of the households and of those who are weak."

OSHEE Director underlined that citizens have been cooperating in our efforts to formalize the sector: "430 thousand agreements have been entered in the counters, of which 410 thousand are household subscribers. 65 thousand agreements have been signed in Durres only, 50% of whom are household subscribers."

How many shares did you get this time? You won't regret your past buys in the vry near future. GLTUA

I believe that if this time Falak can get a credit facility of $1 billion for renewable energy projects, let alone 3 billion, they may continue to get more big hydropower projects from Albania government. Money is the king here. PSPW $$$$$$

https://issuu.com/mediapath/docs/ew-13?e=4385509%2F36829610 page 62

http://regulation.albaniaenergy.org/#post233

Western Balkan 6 take key steps towards establishing a truly integrated regional electricity market, 28 Jun 2016


Today the Energy Community Secretariat published its final monitoring report ahead of the Western Balkan 6 Summit in Paris on 4 July. The report takes stock of the progress made by the six Contracting Parties of the Energy Community in Southeast Europe in creating an integrated electricity market in the Western Balkans and beyond.


At the 2015 Vienna Summit, the six countries committed to implement so-called regional and national electricity market “soft measures”. These consist of, inter alia, taking steps towards electricity trading on integrated spot markets, regional balancing and regional capacity allocation as well as removing existing legal and regulatory barriers.

Director of the Secretariat, Mr Janez Kopac said: “Today’s report underlines the success of the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding of the WB6 on regional electricity market development. It provides the basis for further regional market integration. What is key now is to continue national reforms and overcome the remaining barriers towards the integration of the Western Balkan markets into the pan-European electricity market.”

The monitoring report concluded that the majority of the WB6 countries are still lagging behind in establishing organised market places as a precondition for efficient electricity trading. Moreover, cross-border electricity trade is below the region’s potential, reflecting the high level of market fragmentation.

The report will feed into the upcoming Western Balkan 6 Summit in Paris on 4 July, which will gather heads of government, foreign and economic ministers of the WB6 countries as well as Germany, Austria, Croatia, Italy and Slovenia to further steer regional electricity market integration.

Yes, we must be close. Strongly feel that we will get great news in an 8-K filing before next 10-K is out. PSPW $$$$$$$$

If Falak can complete Shala project on time, they can also sell electricity to Macedonia by then since Albania is also planning to build an 400KV interconnection line with Macedonia starting from next year.

If just one U.S. company is willing to invest 1.4 billion Euro in Kosovo’s energy sector, Albania government may also want to attract more big international investments for their hydropower projects like Falak. Hopefully, we will see Falak to invest more hydropower projects in Albania, maybe up to or more than 1 billion Euro. JMHO. Power up, PSPW $$$$$$$$

http://www.tiranatimes.com/?p=128270

Albania, Kosovo complete power integration project

TIRANA, June 28 – Albania and Kosovo have completed a 400 kV interconnection that will help the two neighboring countries increase energy security by diversifying electricity resources and set up a joint energy market.

The new interconnection line and the power exchange will help Kosovo’s lignite-fired power plants and Albania’s hydro-dependent electricity system exchange electricity during their peak production levels, reducing dependency on costly imports.

“The establishment of this Albanian power exchange will give us the opportunity to jointly operate our power resources and grids. Kosovo has the biggest lignite resources in the region while Albania has the biggest hydroelectricity reserves,” Rama said at an inauguration ceremony on Tuesday also attended by his Kosovo counterpart Isa Mustafa.

The power exchange will enable transparent prices of the day-ahead market encouraging participation in power trade by both countries, according to a recent memorandum signed by the two countries ahead of the third joint government meeting in Kosovo in early June.

Prime Minister Rama described the German-funded interconnection line as a new chapter in Albania-Kosovo cooperation.

“Through this interconnection line, we create the conditions for not only being integrated with each other and having a common energy policy by making use of complementary diversified resources, but also be more powerful and integrated in the European energy market,” said Rama.

Kosovo Prime Minister hailed the completion of the energy project as equally important to the so-called Highway of Nation linking the two countries.

“Energy is a very important pillar for our sustainable economic development. This interconnection line provides stability to businesses and is an important hub for the economic development of our two countries,” said Mustafa.

A U.S. company is planning to build a 660 MW coal-fired plant in Kosovo in a major Euro 1.4 billion investment, with a major impact on Kosovo’s energy security and power exchanges with Albania.

The KfW-funded project, initially delayed because of tender disputes on the Albanian section, cost Albania Euro 29 million. The 400 kV line is 241 km long, of which 90 km in the Albanian section.

Albania and Kosovo have also applied to receive EU funding to conduct a feasibility study on connecting Kosovo to the already under construction Trans Adriatic Pipeline bringing Caspian gas to Europe through Albania.

The KfW-funded project linking Albania to Kosovo is completing Albania’s connection to its neighbors after the completion of the 400 kV Tirana- Podgorica interconnection line, linking Albania to Montenegro.

Albania is also planning to build an interconnection line with neighboring Macedonia to integrate into regional and European energy markets.

The Albanian-state run electricity sector is currently wholly hydro-dependent but is expected to benefit from the under-construction Trans Adriatic Pipeline which will hopefully make operational a newly built thermal power plant in Vlora due to its lower costs on gas operation.

Kosovo has emerged as Albania’s second largest trading partner for exports after the construction of the Highway of Nation in 2009 cutting travel time between the two countries. Ethnic Albanian Kosovars also account for almost half of total foreign tourists to Albania, in what is known as ‘patriotic tourism.’

http://www.balkaneu.com/energy-highway-kosovo-albania-completed/

Energy “highway” between Kosovo and Albania completed

By Elton Tota / 28/06/2016

The so called energy “highway” or 400 kV interconnection line between Albania and Kosovo has been completed.

During the ceremony of inauguration, Albania’s PM, Edi Rama said that Pristina and Tirana are laying the foundations for a joint power market.

“It is an important event in the path of the integration of our countries, starting with energy and continuing in all sectors. We have done so much together in order to apply in each sector our legal and administrative approach”, declared PM Edi Rama in the inauguration ceremony.

Meanwhile, Kosovo’s PM, Isa Mustafa said that this project is as important as the “Nation’s Road”, the highway that links Pristina to Tirana.

“We are delivering our promises of creating a sustainable energy system. The scope of this project is to achieve a high level of power supply and a cleaner environment for the production of power supply”, said Kosovo’s PM.

Meanwhile, Albanian minister of Energy, Damian Gjiknuri said that next year, construction will start for the interconnection line with FYROM.

Meanwhile, the “energy highway” has had a cost of around 30 million euros for the part of Albania alone.

The funding has been issued by German bank KfW. This line has a length of 241,1 km out of which 151,1 km are in Albania and 90 km in Kosovo.

https://seenews.com/news/albania-kosovo-400kv-power-link-goes-live-530664

Albania-Kosovo 400kV power link goes live

TIRANA (Albania), June 28 (SeeNews) - Albania inaugurated on Tuesday a 70 million euro ($77.4 million) 241.1 km 400 kV power transmission line linking the country with Kosovo.

The 151.1 km-long Albanian part cost 29 million euro and was financed by a loan from German development bank KfW, Albania's energy ministry said in a statement.

The construction of the power line started in 2014. The Albanian section was built by Bosnian engineering company Energoinvest, while the 90 km section in Kosovo was built by Croatian power equipment maker Dalekovod and was also funded by KfW.

"This is a milestone not only in the integration of our energy markets, but also a milestone in the integration of our countries, in our economic integration and beyond," Albania's prime minister Edi Rama said at the inauguration ceremony.

Kosovo and Albania have so far been connected via a 220 kV link with a transfer capacity of around 200 MW currently. The new line is set to boost that capacity to around 900 MW, enabling increased exchange of electricity when some of the countries has not enough.

Almost all of Albania's power is produced by hydro power plants, while that of Kosovo comes chiefly from lignite coal. Both countries suffer power shortages due to insufficient output, ageing grids and thefts.

Published on : 21 June 2016
Investments in Bulqizë, OSHEE brings light back to the villages that were forgotten for many years

Citizens of Burrel and of cities included in this region (Burrel, Peshkopi, Bulqizë, Mirdite and Lac) are now all equipped with electric energy meters, which will end the flat rate that was the only way of electricity payment for decades. Once successfully completed, this project will not allow any subscriber to consume electricity without paying for it.

Investments made by OSHEE for the first time after 40 years in the villages of this area, as well as those expected to be completed this year and in the following years, have restored regular supply with quality electricity, which has been lacking throughout this period.

Prime Minister Edi Rama, the Minister of Energy Damian Gjiknuri and OSHEE leader Cela were today in Bulqize to learn about the ongoing project, and those expected to be realized soon.

A significant investment by OSHEE, worth 150 million new ALL will include the cities of Bulqizë, Burrel, Shupenzë, Maqellarë for the renovation and construction of 64 new cabins, the replacement of the aluminium air lines, a source of serious defects, with A B C cable network. OSHEE General Manager Ardian Cela said that this investment will significantly improve the quality of service to all of these areas, significantly reducing losses.

In addition, he said that among other things, the 140 subscribers of the village Ostren i Vogel will be provided with metres, which will end the flat rate billing that has been applied for 25 years, as one of the residents confirmed. “We haven’t had meters for 25 years, and now we even have electricity”, he said.

Following a 5-million ALL investment made by OSHEE in the distribution line, 25 families of the village Gjinovec have electricity after 15 years. Another 15 families of the village Val-Martanesh, where electricity has been missing for 17 years, benefited an investment of 14 million ALL which restored energy supply.

“This investment we are inspecting is 180 million new ALL worth, and we are renewing approximately new cabins. The quality service is significantly improved, and losses are significantly reduced. 14 million new ALL were invested in 2013, and 44 million ALL in 2015. Investments have been completed in three villages where energy has been lacking for 15 years. Another good news is the instalment of the meters across the regional directorate in Burrel. All subscribers will have one”, Cela said.

The Minister of Energy Damian Gjiknuri noted that the current situation after the investments made in the energy sector is the product of the reform undertaken by the government.

Prime Minister Rama said that everything that is going on in the energy sector is an epochal transformation, and he reiterated the commitment of the government not to tolerate any abuse of electricity, such as rejecting or misusing the electric meter. “We are committed to end the flat rate billing. We are committed to install meters in every house and business. But it should be clear to everybody that those who doesn’t accept the meters or breaks them will not be supplied with electricity from July 1. The meters are part of the common investment. They are paid with the money of the common contributions, and they are a necessity, so that there will be no more flat rate at the expenses of the people, and everybody will pay for what they consume. Second, it will end the story that some pay and some don’t, for this story belongs to the past. Those who want to live with the past, will live in darkness, there will be no light for them.”

Published on : 27 June 2016
Energy reform, meaningful results

OSHEE has introduced another new service for subscribers, the queue management system. Thanks to this system, any OSHEE subscriber will not have to wait any longer in the queue at the counters to pay the electricity bill. It is the system that manages the queue of clients who obtain a number in the information desk, until the moment that they make the payment. The new system is being implemented in the first 14 centres of Customer Care in the main cities of the country. Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by the Minister of Energy and Industry Damian Gjiknuri, and OSHEE Director Ardian Cela, visited one of the Customer Care Centres in Durres that is using the new service.

“The client obtains a ticket for the queue, and then goes to the counter to be delivered the services, whether it is an application or a complaint. The whole process is monitored with cameras and a vocal system”, Cela said.

After applying and submitting a complaint online, after the payment service delivered not only in the counters, in the post office and by phone, OSHEE will now deliver a new services that enhances the relation between the company and clients, the info desk or the online electronic counters.

“The next steps will be the alternative counters that have been launched since February. 950 thousand payment applications have been conducted, for an amount of 3 billion ALL. Info desks or smart desks have been placed in 18 business centres in different cities, where people can apply or submit complaints, which they can follow online. We are about to launch another application for smart phones, for payments and information”, OSHEE Director said.

According to Prime Minister Rama, the reforms undertaken to formalize and recovery the sector not only have transformed the company's relationship with customers, but have been transformed into new services for them. “Compared to where we started, I believe this is a revolution that begun when the major bleeding in the sector was stopped, and it has continued with the whole transformation process of the relation between the customers and the company. Now, we are at a moment when investments, that are a result of the contributions of everybody, are escalating. Actually, these investments are returned to the contributors, to the customers, who receive a better service that still needs improvement. These investments will eliminate once and for all the flat rate, and establish the condition according to which you pay for what you consume”, the Prime Minister said.

“I know that it hasn’t been easy”, the Prime Minister continued, “because it was a painful wake after a period of agony in this sector, during which we were neither alive not dead. By paying for what we consume, and with our support, all those who receive subsidies have not been affected by the removal of the flat rate, because we have allocated 16 million dollars per year.

The theory that poverty is fought with alimony is totally wrong, because alimony does nothing but recycles poverty. While reforms are painful in the first moment, but then they definitely bring a recovery and a sustainable social development of the economy of the households and of those who are weak."

OSHEE Director underlined that citizens have been cooperating in our efforts to formalize the sector: "430 thousand agreements have been entered in the counters, of which 410 thousand are household subscribers. 65 thousand agreements have been signed in Durres only, 50% of whom are household subscribers."

#19 on Breakout Boards. PSPW $$$$$$$$

#22 on Breakout Boards. PSPW $$$$$$$$

Here we are grabbing some more cheap shares right before the huge breakout. Smart move. Go, PSPW $$$$$$$$

Published on : 03 June 2016
Cooperation between Albania and Kosovo, a regional model

Statement by Prime Minister Edi Rama at a press conference with the Prime Minister of Kosovo, following the joint meeting of the two governments:

Many thanks, dear friend!

Hello to everyone!

What remains to be said is that what you all saw today is actually the culmination of a preparatory work, a long one, not just to coordinate the documents of the agreements, but to advance a strategic integration plan of our shared space, of our economic and cultural interaction, because the political interaction has not been lacking for a single moment, since the very beginning.

Today's meeting consolidates permanently a process where the path towards national unity, seen as integration among us, in view of the modernization of our two countries and their full integration in the European Union, has a very concrete and daily dimension of ideas, projects, instruments and common energies that are implementing on a daily basis a joint national effort, the creation of a unified space and a model of cooperation between us, but also for the wider region.

Just as cooperation is deepened in economy, in finance, transport, energy, but also in the field of governance and public administration, environment and cross-border cooperation, and in the event we have to face together natural disasters.

Further easing of any procedure that prevents the flow of exchange between people and goods, in strict economic and trade terms, is an inalienable objective.

A total unification of our countries’ market, and the consolidation of the common energy market are the frame of this commitment. Suffice it to think that as a result of what we committed in the previous meetings of the two governments, the trade volume with Kosovo amounted to 200 million Euros in 2015. In fact, Kosovo has been ranked for the first time second after Italy in the destination of Albanian exports. A similar mutually benefit has had also Kosovo’s entrepreneurship in terms of exports to Albania.

What remains to be said is that everything we have achieved, simply makes us more aware of the great potentials of this cooperation, and of the necessity to maximize them.

We must keep in mind also that the growth in an absolute figure of the people moving between the two sides was 22% in 2015; a very significant figure.

The unification of 20 certificates among the relevant institutions, and procedures for a joint customs terminal, the creation a green corridor for export and import of agricultural products, and the harmonization of seasonal reference prices have given us a new breath in terms of economic interaction.

Of course we are together also in the Berlin Process. We will be together with the Prime Minister and our teams in Paris, at the third station, where we are determined to promote this model.

I want to highlight that this year Albania has made a proposal, which is the main item on the agenda, for the model of cooperation between our two governments, in view of the expansion of space and the removal of non-tariff barriers, to become a regional model, and for borders among countries in the region to practically disappear in terms of free movement of people and goods. According to the estimations made by international experts of the Berlin Process, this will bring a significant increase in trading volumes and a considerable impact on the economy of each of our countries.

Thanks once again Mr Prime Minister! Thanks to our friends of the government of Kosovo for their hospitality, organization and the great commitment they have shown in a process that is not easy at all. It's very easy to address speeches about the nation and about unity, but it is very difficult to serve the nation and unity while dealing with procedures, certificates, bureaucracies, which in fact are the only opponents we have on the path to national unity.

UK's leave will make EU to do a thorough reform and become more united, but may cause Scotland and even London to declare indepent from UK and join the EU and they want to call it "Scotlond". LOL

Totally agree.

"BREXIT : WHAT A BLOODY JOKE"

See what most UK citizens feel after knowing the vote result:

"I personally voted leave believing these lies and I regret it more than anything. I feel genuinely robbed of my vote"

"I thought it was just a protest vote that wouldn't ever happen"......

Today more than 1.5 million UK citizens signed a petition to ask for another vote and call upon HM Government to implement a rule that if the remain or leave vote is less than 60% based on a turnout less than 75% there should be another referendum.

It is a big joke !!!

Website: http://www.3powerenergy.com
Albania's strategic location and its liberal energy trade policies enable exports towards diverse markets that feature strong demand. The country is in the midle of a net electricity importing region. Italy, the fourth largest consumers of electricity in Europe, imports more than 15 percent of its energy at relatively high prices. In addition, Ital, being unable to meet by 2020 with its own production the green energy target set by EU, is forced to importmore than 50 percent of its target or about 14 billion kilowatt hours of electricity.

Published on : 16 June 2016
Establishment of “Konfindustria Albania”, strengthening the cooperation with Italy

The speech of the Prime Minister Edi Rama on the establishment of “Konfindustria Albania”:

I would like to start today with the last-night victory. However, supposing there was somebody that was suspicious of the “Italianization” of Albania, yesterday, it was the exemplary evidence, not just for the mere fact that the coach is an Italian coach, but even for the way he showed himself in the pitch. A “B” Italy was there to build an impenetrable wall against the greatest pretendents of the European championship.

However, it is just a football match, meanwhile the Italianization of Albania does not occur only in the pitch where the Albanian national team plays, but it is in the pitch of the entire relations of Albania with the world, relations which always start from Italy, not only today, but it has been like this historically.

I sent a message to Matteo Renzi, telling him that I will be present in the event on the birth of the youngest twin of Italian Konfindustria-s, an Albanian twin, which I hope will meet the standard of your expectations, and which will provide an essential push to this fundamental cooperation.

Italy is the most important commercial partner of Albania, because the exchanges between Albania and Italy in the economic field have a very high percentage. They reached approximately 36% of the general amount until April 2016. Even the import-exports have increased. The imports increased by 6% from April of the previous year until April this year. The exports have increased by 20%, meanwhile according to our register for the companies, there are 2600 Italian companies registered in Albania, completely Italian or Italian-Albanian ones, which work in all the sectors of the Albanian economy.

However, there is a very significant data for all of us, that between 2013-2015, the number of the Italians who have visited Albania has increased by 40%, which means we are at a particularly important moment of the cordial relations which have bound us for many years, not just from the years after the fall of the communist regime, but even earlier than that.

In this context, I believe that this event is very important, because Kofindstria now might be an instrument of an immense importance for 3 reasons: for the culture of entrepreneurship, for the recognition it might transmit, but even for the construction of the new bridges between Albania and Italy, in the sense of bringing more investments here as well as more Italian companies.

I always position the culture of the entrepreneurship in the first plan when it comes to expanding the portfolio of the investments that come from abroad, because what the Italian entrepreneurships, or other ones bring, is first of all a culture of entrepreneurship, which is increasing in Albania, but which still needs a lot to get consolidated. Then, it is even the recognition.

I have had the privilege to meet people who have been in Albania for several years and I always think that if they were not here, I am referring to Italian entrepreneurs, the knowledge level would be lower, because they have brought and always bring more knowledge in all the fields.

Of course, the presence of Konfindustria will be important even to continue the fight against stereotypes, against the fears, against the prejudices, which to say the truth, are much fewer in Italy than in other countries of Europe, even because of the fact that we are similar.

What frightens a German, does not frighten an Italian, we have to say this as well. What seems insurmountable to a French, is a game, a very basic thing for an Italian, from all the prospective. We have learned a lot from you, in all the fields.

However, I think it is a very significant moment for the Albanian economy, from the structural prospective. We have understood, probably too late, that the economic model established on the remittances, on the construction and on the debt which is always getting higher in a general situation of a financial crisis, which has particularly impacted Greece, but not a little even Italy – is an exhausted model.

We are back to another direction to develop a growth model, of sustainable development, based on investments, exports, which means based on the production and on the rational exploration of the domestic resources for an economy that increases sustainably, but which ensures even a sustainable growth.

We are at a point of crucial changes, which of course, needs time to create the necessary impact on the country, but particularly on the family economies.

On the other hand, it is very clear that from the beginning, it is not the matter of just one sector, because what has to do with the economy, does not have to do only with the economy actually, but even with justice, with the way how the country has been organized at an administrative level. It has to do with the education and the guarantees on the titles of the ownership, or with the way how the country creates the resources to pay the pensions and so on. For this reason, we have entered a very painful process of reforms, which is necessary though, starting with the power which was the main problem for us.

The Italian entrepreneurs, who have been here for years might testify the fact that the more and more dramatic sufficiency in the sector of energy, from the financial prospective, but even from the administrative one, has created a very big obstacle for a sustainable growth, but even for stimulating the spirit of entrepreneurship to invest more.

Today, we are in a transition moment, between a point where we risked a real failure, not only of the power sector, but even of the financial one, and a point we have not reached yet, to manage this sector with a lot of professionalism and with a spirit towards the future.

However, the sector of power today is very stabilized and on the other hand we also have a reform of liberalization of the trade of energy, which is under development and we think to finalize it in 2019-2020.

We are at a special moment, when the investments in the sector of power are not related only with the part of the private sector, which has always been interested in investing in the hydropower potential of the country, but which have to do even with important public investments to interconnect Albania and to make it an important actor in the regional market, but even to connect it with Europe through Italy.


Coming today to Albania and not only to Albania, but even to Serbia and Kosovo and to other countries of our region, does not mean coming just to one country. If 4 or 5 years ago, investing in Albania used to mean investing only in Albania, today a fundamental change is meant, a change which has already occurred from the political prospective at a regional level, which has opened the way to a regional market much wider than the Albanian one or the one in Kosovo, Serbia, Macedonia and so on. Which means that there is always a prospective of growth of the companies which invest in a country such as Albania and to profit even from a process which we are taking forward; the process of removing the barriers, the non-tariff obstacles of the region, to create a region which shall be completely free from the prospective of the economic and trading exchanges.

Of course, the territorial reform has been very important, reducing more than 360 municipalities and communes to just 60 in a very short period of time. The ones who manage the territorial reforms in Italy know what such a thing means. How important it has been to enter a fundamental radical reform of the education system, from two viewpoints, from one side the general education system had to be reformed, the university system, where I have found that about 400 Italian students study. But what I can assure is that, it is not the case of those university degrees of Bossi’s son anymore, because something very important has changed in our public education system, even though there is much more to be done.

There are about 20000 Italians who live in Albania. Last night, before the match, I met an old lady. Her husband used to be an important entrepreneur in Vlora, but unfortunately, he had passed away two years ago, meanwhile she decided to continue to live in Albania after the death of her husband, to develop further ahead the activity of the company, because as she accepted, she feels at home here.

As I said it, there are 20000 Italians, they are not a few, they are a lot, but they might be even more, because there is a lot of space to advance, to grow this country together and to create the opportunity for more Italian companies. If we make a balance between the cordiality, love intensity between Albania and Italy, so between Albanians and Italians, and the intensity of money that accesses here, a comparison cannot be made yet.

I will always be happy to see that the first part (the friendship) will be progressively bigger than the one of money, but even the money will not spoil this friendship between us, but will make it even more powerful and sustainable over the time.

I would like to thank the ones who told me that the most important person is in this room, Mr. Edoardo Garrone. We are lucky to have you here and it is a privilege for us to be here and to have even the ambassador. I have been lucky that I have had the chance to work with an ambassador such as Alberto Cutillo. Earlier there was the ambassador Massimo Gaiani and then the ambassador we have now; both of them very interested in that joint attempt to expand more and more the cooperation area in the economic field.

Today, we are not talking about the field of security, but in the economic filed this is very important. I continue to believe that Albania has something lots of Italian entrepreneurs dream of.

We are fighting every day. The minister launched recently another packet of measures to advance the reform that we can reduce the bureaucracy between the state and the entrepreneurships. However, I think that the Italian entrepreneurs who are present here and have gone through the first difficult period in Albania might witness that there is much less bureaucracy and much more facility.

Konfindustria of Albania for us will be a partner of the first level, a very important partner in this road which is becoming more and more common between us, because it is not just Albania which needs Italy, but even Italy needs Albania and we have lots of common things

We are almost similar and I think that the future will be a beautiful future for all the ones who will continue to invest in Albania, or for the ones who will come to invest in Albania. And perhaps, the first purpose of Konfindustria is to take aside the Italian banker Silvio Pedrazzi and to tell him to open the pockets more and to provide more money at the disposal of the companies, because they have lots of money in Albania, but they do not spend as we do. We would like them to do it and I am sure that the Albanian entrepreneurs have to learn about this, regarding the way to approach the banks, but even to create a general team as the one between the Italian and Albanian entrepreneurs, in order for them to make a pressure on the banks.

They were the France of yesterday, we are the Albania of the future.

I am certain about what I am saying.

There are many reasons including historical reason for U.K. to leave the EU. But very soon they may find that they chose a very bad timing and made a stupid choice. Who knows, U.K. may regret later and do a referendum again to stay in EU since they still have two years of buffer time. In some sense, U.K.'s leave is a good thing and may cause EU to rethink their policy and reform to accept more members. I am happy to get those cheap shares today. PSPW $$$$$$$$

Totally agree. I also hope the real good news will arrive sooner than we expected. PSPW $$$$$$

I am happy to get some cheap shares @ 0.058 today. Will try my best to get another 60k at around $0.07-$0.08. Strongly feel that we will get great news in an 8-K filing before next 10-K is out. PSPW $$$$$$$$

I am following you to pick up some more shares until the huge breakout day. I am expecting to see some great news in an 8-K filing before 10-K is out. Go, PSPW $$$$$$$$

Published on : 01 June 2016
Albanian economy’s sustainable growth confirmed with facts and figures


Press release of the Minister of Finance Arben Ahmetaj, following the meeting of the Council of Ministers:

Following the communication of latest economic news to the public, in the wake of the announcement made by the International Monetary Fund board to approve the seventh revision in view of the program, I want to share with the citizens the utmost assessment that the International Monetary Fund has given in terms of the Albanian economic developments.

The International Monetary Fund directly confirms the sustainable growth and the positive trend of our economy. All this proves and confirms that the Albanian economy, the Albanian customer, have left the crisis behind. Consumers and entrepreneurship have left behind the crisis of 726 million dollar debts inherited from the previous government. They have left behind the old mentality of an old government that suffocated them with fines. Thanks to this upward positive trend, faith in the Albanian economy is increasingly strengthening.

Today I take also advantage of another very good news for the economy. INSTAT has just issued the register of enterprises, and I wish to share with the Albanian citizens a very interesting and encouraging figure.

9849 new businesses have registered in just 5 months, from January to May of 2016. 24% more than a year ago. Fabricated urban legends that foreign businesses are leaving, are countered by the very important figures issued by INSTAT. 680 new foreign businesses have registered only in the period from January to May, while only 640 in 2015. Therefore, foreign investors are increasingly interested in the Albanian economy.

Meanwhile, I want to share with the Albanian citizens also the fact that those registered in only 5 months, are almost as many as those registered in total in 2013. This comparison just shows how the Albanian economy is progressing.

At the same time, I want to share with you also the very interesting and encouraging figures in terms of consumption. The Bank of Albania has confirmed that the last two quarters of 2015 have had a positive growth of consumption. In addition, the Bank of Albania has noted that the first quarter of 2016 has a positive growth of consumption. So, we have 3 consecutive quarters of increased consumption. The fabricated legend of the fall of consumption is countered by these figures and by this trend. Here you have the figures of consumption, all of them increasing in all three last quarters, i.e. the last 2 of 2015, and the first one of 2016.

We certainly go on with the good news for the economy. I emphasize that good news are not yet sufficient, but they are sufficient to say that we have left the crisis behind, they are sufficient to say that we have entered a positive trend and have zeroed all the problems inherited from the previous government.

Imagine a creature emerging from the darkness at level zero, and starts going up. This is the Albanian economy. It has already left behind the darkness, and referring to all the very positive figures, the economic cycle seems very positive.

A lot has been said recently about foreign trade. Here I have the import figures which have increased significantly. Somewhere, sometime, without reading, it was said that increase comes from TAP, namely from the import of pipes of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline. We removed the TAP effect, and increase results to be 7%, which is a very positive sign that the Albanian economy has taken a turn for good, despite the artificial pessimism that SHQUP tries to create.

Let’s continue with exports. Here you have the volume verified in this quarter by INSTAT. A 4.35% increase in the volume of exports. The 4 month-period has a 1.5% increase.

Let’s continue with the added value in the economy. I will show citizens one page of the prestigious report of the Bank of Albania, which is directly verifiable by anyone who is interested. This is page 47, the quarterly report of the monetary policy of the Bank of Albania where it is stated: “private consumption is estimated to have increased during the first quarter of 2016.” It is neither me nor any member of the cabinet saying this, but the report of the Bank of Albania.

The report of the Bank of Albania has noted also a 10.8% growth in revenues from the value added tax, which refers directly to the added value in the economy.

Finally, after a long time, loan has started to increase. We have a figure which I call hopeful, for it is such. The consumer loan, i.e. loans for consumption have increased 12.6%. It is the first time in many years that this loan has increased by 2 digits.

This is the consumer’s confidence in the future of our economy. Economy gives Albanian consumers the idea of what is ahead, a positive cycle. And at the same time, in the first quarter of 2016 we have an overall increase of approximately 2.8% of deposits. These are figures that speak beyond the arguments we have between us.

The World Bank says that unemployment has dropped from 17.5% to 17.1%, and despite being still high, it is the lowest in the region. Since SHQUP keeps misinforming about young Albanians leaving because they are the most unemployed people in the region, the truth is that despite being high, youth unemployment has decreased significantly and is the lowest in the region. These are figures that counter all the deliberate propaganda to blacken the positive trend of the Albanian economy. SHQUP is trying to come to power by spreading mourning, and I can understand such a propaganda.

Meanwhile, data have shown that economic growth of the first quarter, which I believe will be confirmed in the coming weeks, is higher than the increase in the last quarter of 2015, which directly indicates that the economy is heading towards a consolidated trend of growth, and obviously it has all the potentials to achieve the envisaged 3.4% increase.

Let me remind you the debate on income. Revenues have a consolidated growth, and are moving in the right direction across the macro-economic and fiscal framework. We will have soon a very positive package that will ease procedures for the enterprise, in order for us to keep doing what we have done to improve the economy of Albania, and we will for sure continue to improve also the business climate.

Published on : 14 June 2016
A historic moment for a historic reform


Statement of Prime Minister Edi Rama and the Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, following their meeting:

Prime Minister Rama: It was a privilege and an extraordinary pleasure to welcome today, a friend and an ardent supporter of Albania, but also of the entire region, on the path to membership in the European family.

Of course, this visit is another significant milestone, also for our intensified relation with Germany, a friendly country, to which we are grateful, among other things, for the role taken in the opening of the historical Berlin process that has made our region enter a new era.

Of course, the visit of Minister Steinmeier was important also for the moment where we are. A milestone for an historic reform, the judiciary reform that after being successfully adopted in parliament, will open the path of negotiations with the European Union, for which Germany first of all, and the Foreign Minister in person have invested very seriously to give the Albanian people a clear message that the European Union welcomes Albania, expecting of course from Albania to meet one by one all the conditions required to be a member of the European family.

I am glad that today the Minister underlined unequivocally both the importance of this reform and the necessity for the opposition to take its steps to join a draft that has not been produced at the headquarters of the Socialist Party and neither in the house of the government and of our coalition, but is the product of an intensive cooperation in a model process with the European Union and the United States, where Germany has paid from the beginning a special attention and has followed the process with a particular focus.

Thank you very much, dear Minister! This is another example of the fact that Germany doesn’t give its word very easily, but when it gives its word, it keeps it. You promised you would come to Albania, and today you are here, and it is hard to come to Albania for the first time, but who comes here once, they will always return. You're welcome to come back whenever you want.

Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier: Many thanks, dear Prime Minister for the reception reserved to me and to the accompanying delegation during this visit. I thank you cordially for our talks in these last hours. Of course, Germany follows with special attention the political developments taking place in Albania.

Albania captured recently the attention of the German public opinion, due also to the goal scored by an Albanian player in the European Football Championship.

Prime Minister Rama: This is the best thing about emigrants.

Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier: It would be a great pleasure to continue talking about sport and the matches of the European Football Championship, but what really made us come here, were of course some things more important than that. It's no secret if I say that Albania is in a very crucial stage of the process of its accession to the European Union.

I would like to repeat once again, with pleasure, what I said today during a press conference with the Foreign Minister. Germany really has a very great respect in terms of the path that Albania has entered, and for what has been accomplished so far. We follow with great interest the reforms that have been developed especially in the economic sector, which will definitely bring here in Albania even more successful investments of German investors and entrepreneurs.

But of course, it would be of a better interest that Albania follows on its own path to the creation of a state, of a more democratic and a more sustainable system. The key point in this context would be the fight against corruption, coupled with the reform of the justice system. It is not certainly the first time that this topic so important is being discussed, but we are now in a very crucial stage. In autumn of this year, the European Commission will review its expectations toward Albania, whether they have been met or not, and the reform in the justice system plays a decisive role in this regard.

We are now at the stage of an open window of the opportunities provided, and I hope very much that the political forces in the country will be able to find common ground in order to meet the expectations of the European Commission concerning the conclusion of the reform in the justice system. I think we are at a point where Albania has never been before, which means that the country has walked much of its road, and we are before a product that does not come only as an Albanian product, but comes as a product in consultation with the Venice Commission, as well as with prominent international experts.

I hope that the political forces will be able to find the courage to take the right decisions in this regard, and I hope that in terms of the fulfilment of this reform, the concrete support of the opposition will be also required. It is in the interest of every Albanian citizen, in the interest of a more transparent future, that this reform is completed exactly in view of the fight against corruption. Thanks.

http://www.kryeministria.al/en/newsroom/speeches/simplified-procedures-a-new-chapter-for-the-business-climate1465989025&page=1

Published on : 08 June 2016
Simplified procedures, a new chapter for the business climate

http://www.kryeministria.al/en/newsroom/speeches/albania-and-kosovo-two-years-of-inspiring-collaboration-for-another-year-of-challenges&page=1
Published on : 03 June 2016
Albania and Kosovo, two years of inspiring collaboration for another year of challenges
Speech of Prime Minister Edi Rama at the third joint meeting held in Kosovo between the government of Kosovo and the government of Albania:

Very honourable Prime Minister Isa Mustafa!

Dear ministers of Kosovo and Albania,

Fellow citizens and compatriots on both sides of our Highlands,

In Prizren, a city where Albanians affirmed united their right to exist half a century ago, our government started in 2014 a journey that has already created a new and extraordinary space of cooperation. In basing our policymaking on the reality of a land, of a people and of a common dream, together we have transformed the border from a huge gap separating us into a new bridge of cooperation that is strengthening every day. It is from this collaboration that the idea to create a common energy space between Albania and Kosovo originated.

We will be together in Tirana in a few weeks to inaugurate the interconnector line that will eventually connect the energy highway between Albania and Kosovo, in addition to opening a new stage for the development of this common space. But on the other hand, a strategic common priority is the connection of Kosovo with the TAP pipeline through the territory of Albania, which will put our space in the main streets of energy transition in Europe.

We have created in these two years a common agricultural market and unified standards and methods, in addition to adapting legislation on food control. Not only we finally succeeded to have our children, both in Albania and Kosovo, learn their mother tongue from the same primer, but we also unified the university system, our curricula, thus laying the foundation of a nationwide education.

On the other hand, we have encouraged a much more intense cooperation in the field of university research. The common cultural calendar of Albania and Kosovo is already a reality, where lovers of art and culture move freely, using the extraordinary potential of this joint space.

In these two years, we have materialized many other cooperation agreements on tourism, environment, or on the national security police. And today I am glad to look at the police of Kosovo with less envy, not because it is less good than it was when I used to say that we must take a leaf from Kosovo’s book, but because our police looks more like that of Kosovo’s. And I believe that in this direction we have been helped by the cooperation and the force of example of your excellent police.

Our relationship, which has been since long characterized by Albania’s absolute diplomatic support and by mutual visits on festive occasions, such as accolades or any sort of inauguration, has already entered a completely new historical phase of a strategic partnership in all directions.

Therefore, the third meeting of our governments today comes as a common work exercise to analyse what we have achieved and to program the following year. It is time to go further because we have done a lot, but there is still much more to do. To accelerate the already started process for breaking down all non-tariff barriers, unifying policies and strategies in all sectors, and for meeting our shared ambition to consolidate the foundations of a nation-wide space in the region.

The results of the work done so far are very encouraging indeed. Suffice it to note here that in the past year trade exchanges between our countries have reached for the first time the quota of 200 million Euros, a figure that is still far from what the figure of our interaction in the field of trade relations can be, but it has placed Kosovo for the first time as the second largest destination for exports. A direct result of our joint work to expand the space of commercial interaction.

The agreement to be signed today on the joint customs and taxation investigation, and that on the border partnerships, coordinate our efforts to formalize and integrate our economies. The further steps we are taking to create a customs point of Kosovo’s at the Port of Durres to harmonize excise duties, unify price references for transport, as well as to create the green corridor for export and import of seasonal agriculture products, will obviously give a new impetus to the economic cooperation between our two countries.

The establishment of the Training Centre for the Youth and the unification of reforms in innovation and administration will enable Albania and Kosovo to further enhance inter-institutional cooperation, by laying not only the foundations to create a modern administration with unified standards and procedures based on the example of EU countries, but to have also a necessary interaction at a human level among civil servants on this side of the Highlands and the other side.

The announcement of the lake of Fierza being a protected area of common interest, is the first step towards the development of a concrete cross-border tourist platform. Our goal is to extend this cooperation throughout the basin crossed by the river Drin. Meanwhile, we have given a strong impetus also to the Alps cross-border project in cooperation with the municipality of Gjakovë.

Our countries have already had for the first time a common strategy for the protection of the environment, by joining together to monitor the quality of air, water and soil, and to protect nature, manage protected areas and use sustainably our natural resources.

Albania and Kosovo have always been together, on their good and tough days. But today we are about to sign here in Pristina, for the first time, a platform that sanctions our cooperation in the event of natural disasters.

Looking forward to seeing great news and filings from Falak very very soon. Go, PSPW $$$$$$$$

The National Dispatcher Centre and the new control system SCADA / EMS were inaugurated today as one of the most important projects of the Transmission System Operator. The project, worth approximately 7 million Euros for the new building, and 16 million Euros for the system SCADA / EMS, was funded with a loan of the Italian government through the Italian Cooperation.

"It is one of the most important projects implemented by the Transmission System Operator, which has been missing for 25 years in the Albanian power system" - Director of the Transmission System Operator, Engjell Zeqo said.

The new SCADA / EMS Network Management enables a safe and efficient operation of the Transmission System, which is used consistently by operators. The OST control system monitors and operates in real time all the 400 kV and 220 kV substations, as well as the largest and most important part of the 110 kV substations.

The generation control system includes some processes that regulate in real time the power generation in accordance with the operational and economic constraints. Among the benefits from the operation of this control system is the optimal utilization of the transmission grid; the optimization of the use of resources; an increased quality of the operations; an increased reliability of the power system.

The new system of the Network Management has been the main condition for OST membership in the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E).

Also like the following parts:

We have much to do, and I look forward to giving Albanians by June the news that they have been waiting for 25 years. They will pay what they consume, and the flat bills will not exist anymore. This news is of great importance, not just in terms of economic importance, but above all it has a great importance in terms of equality before the law and the liability of everyone.

We are making a massive investment to make it possible that eventually all customers will have their meter after more than 20 years. It is an opportunity that was created by the reform and the fact that we no longer need to spend money to fill the pit of theft, but we can spend the money to improve the system. And everybody should know that the metres are a contribution of all those who pay for energy and pay taxes. Nobody should dare and think that by breaking the metre they can continue to steal energy and won’t be punished. Punishments will be very severe.

In the following paragragh it mentioned OSHEE:

If OSHEE closed 2012 at a 320 million dollar loss, the company closed 2015 with a 70 million dollar profit. If, up until recently we started this reform, the taxpayers, those who paid energy, those who paid also taxes, and in addition to energy had to pay through the state budget an average of 150 million dollars every year to pay off the theft and to keep a system going, today not only we don’t have to pay 150 million dollars as tax for thieves, but we invest 150 million dollars. And this has come as a result of the joint effort to transform the system from a hole that sucked the money of the most honest people and of those who have always complied with the law, into a source of economic and social welfare.

My guess is that Falak has been waiting a long time for this big event to guarantee that the power produced from Shala project can be sold to other regions other than Albania. PSPW $$$$$$

http://www.kryeministria.al/en/newsroom/news/the-electric-energy-sector-has-shifted-from-the-collapse-to-public-benefits

I like the following part:

300 million Euros will be invested in the system to increase the production of energy. On the other hand, our system today is such that it guarantees the interoperability of Albania with other countries, and in June we will attend an extraordinary event, not only for Albania, but also for Kosovo, not only for the connection of the market, but also for strengthening the links between Albania and Kosovo in the path of the national economic union, to open and operate the interconnection line with Kosovo. This is this another strategic investment that was delayed for years, which opens a completely new perspective for Albania and Kosovo.

I am happy to get 30k shares @ .071 today. Will try my best to get another 70k at around $0.07-$0.09. Strongly feel that we will get great news in an 8-K filing either before next 10-K or immediately after the 10-K is out. PSPW $$$$$$$$

I had no luck today. I will keep trying to get some cheap shares at $0.07 the coming weeks. PSPW $$$$$$$$