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ATCI: Albanian Times, 98-01-12
Albanian Times Vol. IV, No. 2
January 12, 1998
CONTENTS
[01] Albanian Minister Sees More Normal Economy in 1998
[02] Aid Project for Northeastern Albania Resumes
[03] Albanian Chrome Output Raises in Third Quarter of 97
[04] Germany, Greece to back Albanian police restructuring
[05] KESH Negotiates Installation of Collective Meters
[06] Reestablishing Phone Links in 13 District a Priority - Telekom
[07] In 1997, Customs Collected 21,3 billion leks
[08] French Company Considers Investing in Phosphate Plant.
[09] Ministers Pledges Fight Against Smuggling, Increase of Custom worker
salaries
[10] Czech Companies Offer to Buy Albanian Iron-nickel
[11] Oil Production Up
[12] Police Tries to Block Smuggling in the North
[13] Drinking water for 90 more villages and 8 towns in 1998
[14] More People to be Assisted Economically in 1998
[15] Savings Bank and Rural Commercial Bank to Merge in 1998
[01] Albanian Minister Sees More Normal Economy in 1998
TIRANA, January 9 - Albania's Economy and Privatisation Minister Ylli Bufi
said the most important sectors of the economy had emerged from crisis,
paving the way for more normal development in 1998. He said 1998 would mark
the re-launch of the privatisation programme, which he believed would bring
new investments and introduce foreign capital in strategic sectors.
Important deals had already been agreed with foreign companies in the key
oil, chrome and copper industries.
A $250 million oil project by Britain's Premier Oil Plc would start within
three months. Premier signed a contract with Albania in December to
increase oil production and build an 18 km pipeline from Patos to the
coast. Canada's Nebex Resources Ltd would start investing in copper while
Anglo-Italian group Kinglor-RDI would develop the ferro-chrome industry.
Bufi said two other important projects would be the rehabilitation of
hydropower stations on the Drini river and improving the power distribution
network, with funding from the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development and the World Bank.
[02] Aid Project for Northeastern Albania Resumes
KUKES, January 7 - A $18.2 million project designed to lessen the poverty
in northeastern Albania, will continue, ATA said. The rural development
project, covering the districts of Kukes, Diber, Has and Tropoje, began in
1995 and will continue through the year 2000. The project is co-financed by
the International Fund for Agricultural Development - IFAD - ($11,6
million), the Islamic Bank for Development ($5,5 million) and the Albanian
government ($1.05 million). Investments cover infrastructure, rural credits,
veterinary development, agricultural and livestock development and local
government.
[03] Albanian Chrome Output Raises in Third Quarter of 97
TIRANA, January 7 - Albania's Institute of Statistics reported the
following main economic indicators for 1997:
Chrome Output Q3 1997 Q2 1997 Jan-Sept 1997
Total chrome ore (tons) 35,152 22,679 116,713
High grade chrome ore (tons) 20,151 17,689 63,692
Chrome concentrate (tons) 6,206 4,282 17,146
Ferrochromium (tons) 6,210 9,931 22,584
[04] Germany, Greece to back Albanian police restructuring
TIRANA, January 7 - Ambassadors of Germany and Greece have confirmed the
support of their country to restructure the Albanian police in the
framework of the West European Union (WEU). In a ceremony marking the take
over of the WEU presidency by Greece, the Ambassador of Germany Hans Peter
Disdorn and the Greek ambassador Konstantine Prevendurakis expressed the
readiness of their countries and governments to help restructure the
Albanian police. Attending were officials of the WEU mission (MAPE) and
senior officials of the Albanian Interior Ministry.
[05] KESH Negotiates Installation of Collective Meters
TIRANA, January 4 - The Albanian Energetic Corporation (KESH) is negotiating
with the World Bank a $ 6 million credit to continue a project aimed at
installing collective meters to keep track of the use of electricity by the
population. The installment of collective meters in apartment buildings had
begun before 1997 when the country slipped into anarchy. About 553
collective meters were destroyed during the riots but were repaired with
funding by KESH. About 2,000 new meters are expected to be installed within
the first few months of 1998.
[06] Reestablishing Phone Links in 13 District a Priority - Telekom
TIRANA, January 4 - Albanian Telekom said reestablishing telephone
connections with 13 districts is a priority. Telekom General Director
Dhimiter Rafti said the company "has spent one million dollars to ensure
connection through the radio-relay system, because the cable system is out
of use." Telephone connections were interrupted in the districts of Sarande,
Mirdite, Peshkopi, Bulqize, and other areas during the riots last
year.
[07] In 1997, Customs Collected 21,3 billion leks
TIRANA, January 5 - About 21,3 billion leks were collected from customs
during 1997, despite the dificculties caused by the turmoil that swept the
country, custom officials said. Customs revenue increased with more than
4.3 billion leks compared with 1996. About 13.3 billion leks were collected
in the last four months alone, officials said.
[08] French Company Considers Investing in Phosphate Plant.
TIRANE, January 5 - "Ever Trade" a French based company is considering
inveting about $1 million in the superphosphate plant in Lac, Northwestern
Albania, A.D.E.F.A (France-Albania Economic Development Association) said.
The investment will address the renovation of the plant's technology and
procurement of the raw materials for the production of superphosphate
fertilizers. "Ever Trade" is the biggest purchaser of Albanian superphosphate.
[09] Ministers Pledges Fight Against Smuggling, Increase of Custom worker
salaries
KORCE, January 7 - Cracking down on smuggling remains a major concern of
the Albanian government the Minister of Finances, Arben Malaj told a
meeting attended by leaders and financial experts of customs, tax, budget,
treasure, bank and INSIG departments in the district of Korce, Southeastern
Albania. The minister said that during the period of March-December 1997,
about 230 customs employees were fired in connection with smuggling and 37
of them have been indicted. "The government will soon submit to the
Parliament a new draft Code on taxes, customs and the small business,"
Malaj said. He said "the salaries of the staff in the tax and customs
departments, prosecutor's offices and courts will increase by 50%," while
the average salaries in other state sectors will receive a boost of
20%."
[10] Czech Companies Offer to Buy Albanian Iron-nickel
Czech companies have offered to buy undisclosed amounts of Albanian iron-
nickel ore, ATA said. Before 1990, the Czechs were the primary buyers of
Albanian iron-nickel. About 300,000 tons of iron-nickel lie idle at Durres
harbour ready for shipment pending offers from foreign buyers. Mining
specialists foresee total exports of about 500,000 tons for 1998.
[11] Oil Production Up
TIRANA, January 8 - Albanian oil production increased to a daily 1,000 tons
in December from 700 tons in July. In 1998, production is expected to reach
420,000 tons from 360,000 tons in 1997. Albpetrol investments for 1998 will
amount to 880 million leks with foreign investments expected to be about
$63,5 million.
[12] Police Tries to Block Smuggling in the North
KOPLIK, January 9 - The police of Malesi e Madhe in Northern Albania, have
taken all-round measures to stop smuggling through the lake of Shkoder. The
measures have enabled the prevention of smuggling towards Montenegro.
Police checks are active along the road Shkoder-Han i Hotit, as well as in
the secondary roads which lead to the lake of Shkoder. Large scale
smuggling of cigarettes, fuel and coffee towards Montenegro started in 1993
despite the embargo of the United Nations against former Yugoslavia. The
area continued to be a smuggling haven during the turmoil that swept
Albania last year.
[13] Drinking water for 90 more villages and 8 towns in 1998
TIRANA, January 9 - Albanian Government is planning to provide drinking
water to 90 more villages and improve water supply in eight towns during
1998. The Ministry of Construction and Public Affairs will inject funds
worth 600 million lek frozen for four years, to construct 43 water supply
facilities. The towns to benefit from the project are Lushnje, Ballsh,
Belsh, Krasta, Elbasan, Gramsh, Permet, and Konispol..
[14] More People to be Assisted Economically in 1998
TIRANA, January 9 - The Ministry of Labour forecasts that in 1998, 35,000
more people who have lost their life savings in pyramid investment schemes
and those dislocated from the country's northern part will be included into
the economic assistance scheme. According to sources from the ministry,
legal work is underway to find ways to provide economic support to the
Albanian immigrants recently from Italy.
[15] Savings Bank and Rural Commercial Bank to Merge in 1998
TIRANA, January 10 - The merge of the Rural Commercial Bank and the Savings
Bank until the end of 1997 seemed to go as planned by senior officials of
both Banks. Until now all deposits of RCB around 3,5 billion leks have been
transferred at SB.According to RCB officials are now addressing less
important issues such as the relations of RCB with the Albanian Telekom
regarding the services rendered by the bank to Telekom clients.
This material was reprinted with permission of AlbAmerica Trade and
Consulting International (ATCI). For more information on ATCI and the
Albanian Times, please write to AlbaTimes@aol.com.
Copyright © ATCI, 1998
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