News

In March 6th, FIAA held the Annual Assembly Meeting of the Members and conducted election process for three new Board Members including the Appointment of the Chairman of FIAA for the next two years to come.

In his opening speech, the outgoing President of FIAA, Mr. Silvio Pedrazzi highlighted some of the main achievements and challenges he had during his Chairmanship of three years within FIAA and emphasized the importance of the Organization as the best Instrument for the Foreign Investors in Albania. Mr. Pedrazzi did also thank the FIAA members for the support and trust given to him, expressing his will to further continue his mission on representing FIAA as Member of the Board of Directors.

The World Bank Group (WBG) is supporting the Berlin Process and the Trieste Declaration of the WB6 and the EU in the establishment of a regional mechanism to coordinate policies with the goal of increasing investment flows as well as firm level investment leads and commitments within the six Western Balkan economies (WB6) (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia (FYROM), Montenegro, Serbia). The six economies have undertaken to identify and eliminate the main obstacles derived from regulations, measures or governmental actions that prevent or hinder the expansion of foreign direct investment within the region.

The Albanian Secretariat of Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) organized on February 28th, 2018 a Conference on “Presentation of the EITI 2016 Report and Promotion of Transparency in the Natural Resources Utilization in Albania”. The publication of the EITI 2016 Annual Report which aims at promoting Transparency in the Governance of Natural Resources in Albania, marks the conclusion of the National Secretariat’s annual activity and it is the result of the cooperation between MSG and Interest Groups. FIAA-s Executive Director, present in this Conference delivered a Message on the importance of the Transparency and Accountability of the use of Natural Resources of the Country as an important factor for the attraction of the Foreign Investors.

Albanian Investment Council held on 13^th of February a Meeting chaired by the Minister of Finance and Economy, Mr Arben Ahmetaj. In the agenda of the meeting was the presentation of the main findings of the Secretariat on the functioning of the e-Permits Platform, as part of the Deregulation Reform, as well as the launching of the process for the preparation of the new unified law on investments by the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

On February 13th, the appointed FIAA representatives in the Multi-Stakeholder Group of Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) met with the Head of Albanian EITI Secretariat, Mr. Ardit Kamberi .

The aim of the meeting was to discuss on the perspectives of the objectives of EITI Secretariat and the role of the Private Sector in the process.

Mr. Kamberi praised the commitment shown by the representatives of the companies in the EITI reporting process in Albania, considering this group as an essential pillar of the substantial triangular cooperation (Government Institutions, Companies and Civil Society) in the activity of the Albanian EITI.

The novelty of 2016 EITI’s report is the inclusion of the Energy sector in the EITI reporting process, reconfirming the comprehensive nature of the process in the exploitation of natural resources.

FIAA’s Chairman, for the third time has been officially appointed as a Business Member in the Albanian Investment Council. Investment Council is a platform aiming to support the creation of business enabling environments by promoting better diagnosis of investment climate problems and improved policy design and by strengthening the position of reformers within governments.

In frame of 100 days of work,  the newly created Ministry of State for Protection of Entrepreneurship organized  in December late a meeting with all groups of interest and business organizations  where was highlighted once more the role of this New Institution  focusing on the compilation of a Package of Concrete Proposals for improving Business Environment in Albania. In this ambit, Ms Marinela Jazoj, at the quality of Executive Director FIAA was a speaker in the Meeting Panel, during which she claimed the collaboration with the New Ministry, in particular its expected role in the publication of FIAA White Book Albania 2017-2021.

During the meeting participants were introduced not only with the work done in handling complaints but also with the concrete proposals the Office of the Minister of State for Protection of Enterprise is going to submit to the Government.

The Executive Director of FIAA was invited as a speaker and Panel Moderator at the International summit “Hydropower Balkans” which was hold during November 15^th-17th, 2017 in Podgorica. The Summit was a professional platform, bringing together major investors in the Energy Sector, Decision-makers of the leading hydropower plants and investment project initiators, as well as regulators, to consolidate efforts focused on efficient implementation of key projects for the construction and reconstruction of HPPs across the Balkan region.

“Moving Forward”

Ministers state: Sustainable Investments for Sustainable Development!

FIAA organized an event whereby Albanian Ministers of Infrastructure and Energy Mr. Damian Gjiknuri, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship Mrs. Sonila Qato and Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Mr. Niko Peleshi presented their sectoral plans at the presence of the foreign business community in Albania and confirmed government’s full commitment to move forward with the improvement of business climate.

In his opening remarks, FIAA’s Chairman, Mr. Silvio Pedrazzi highlighted that Albania should keep up with reforms for a friendly business environment, in particular for the existing foreign investments. “We are willing to commit on our behalf, but this requires a friendlier business environment. We are aware, it is in the Government’ priorities to improve the business climate, but there is need to move forward and speed up with the related reforms. We are the best ambassadors to promote Albanian investments!”- stated Mr. Pedrazzi.