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Albanian Times, Vol. I, No. 7, November 26, 1995From: Albanian Times <AlbaTimes@aol.com>The Albanian Times (by AlbAmerica TRade & Consulting International) DirectoryIn this issue:CONTENTS[1] Albania to Lift Fuel Ban on Yugoslavia[2] Germany to Support Albanian Infrastructure[3] Albanian Faster Moving Cars Challenge Struggling Railways[4] EU Promotes Small Businesses in Albania[5] IFDC in Albania to Continue Operation Through 1997[6] Population Shifts Are Not a Strategy, Officials Explain[7] Unemployment Still a Problem[8] Copper Wire Plant Back to Work[9] Commission to Supervise Investment Funds[10] Coca-Cola Bottling Enterprise Grows[1] Albania to Lift Fuel Ban on YugoslaviaAlbania said on November 24 it will lift an economic embargo on rump Yugoslavia despite feeling snubbed over its request that an end to sanctions be linked to international protection for ethnic Albanians living in Serbia. ``After the (United Nations) Security Council resolution to lift the economic sanctions on rump Yugoslavia, there is no reason that Albania should enforce it any longer,'' a government spokesman quoted Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi as saying. The spokesman did not specify when the government would meet to decide on lifting the ban. But he said Tirana was mulling over ways to demand further pressure on Belgrade to respect the rights of ethnic Albanians, who mainly live in the southern Serbian region of Kosovo. According to official estimates, Albania has lost up to one billion dollars since the embargo came into effect three years ago. This week, police seized at least three petrol tankers which had rushed to the border with Yugoslavia to try to cross before sanctions were lifted. Albanians have smuggled thousands of tonnes of fuel into Montenegro during the past three years, mostly across Lake Shkoder in boats and other vessels. One economist forecast the end of the embargo will hit Albania's economy. ``Hard currency earned by fuel smugglers was one major factor behind the appreciation of the lek against the American dollar and the German mark,'' the economist said. He said the cloud might have a silver lining if the smugglers decided to invest what they had accumulated. (Reuter)
[2] Germany to Support Albanian InfrastructureGermany has earmarked DM64 million to support Albania's small infrastructure projects during 1996. A protocol of technical cooperation signed on November 23 in Tirana includes aid in improving water and electricity supply system as main objects. This aid is DM10 million bigger than in the previous year, which was aimed at Albania's economic recovery and was used mainly in Tirana, Kavaja and northern areas of the country.
[3] Albanian Faster Moving Cars Challenge Struggling RailwaysCar transportation continues to expand while railways will continue to keep potential investors away, Albanian officials say. The government is providing up to $3.5 million a year in subsidies to keep trains up and running, but according to the officials, this is too little. As soon as the subsidies are gone, rail transport may go bankrupt. Despite the increasing disadvantage, he government is spending $2 million aided by a $6 million investment by the Italian government to rehabilitate a major rail link between Tirana and Durres. However, this is a far cry from car road investments, which in 1995 amount to $9.5 million, officials say. Of this, $4,84 million have been earmarked for the construction of new roads. About $3.09 million have been pumped into the Tirana-Vlora highway, which is on its seventh kilometer.
[4] EU Promotes Small Businesses in AlbaniaThe European Union's "Phare" program is using about 3 million ECU to promote small and medium sized enterprizes in Albania. The funds are being administered by the Savings Bank in cooperation with the SME Foundation. Object of the Phare credits are any small and medium sized private enterprises involved in such activities as wood processing, garment manufacturing, brewery, milk and meat processing etc.
[5] IFDC to Continue Operation in Albania Through 1997The International Fertilizer Development Center with continue its activity in Albania through 1997, an IFDC official said. Ray Diamond, who heads an IFDC team in Albania said marketing, distribution, guiding information and government has been the focus of IFDC in Albania. IFDC started operation in Albania in 1991 with financing by the United States Agency for International Development. A donation of fertilizers was provided to Albanian private traders at 20 percent of its real cost. In 1992, a private network emerged in Albania, with 125 suppliers who covered most of the country. In 1993 the network expanded to 400 traders. IFDC has also been involved in the technical evaluation of Albania's major fertilizer plants in the cities of Lac and Fier, working to find foreign investors to make the plants operational. Our aim is to reduce Albania's fertilizer imports, which currently amount to $7.5 million, Diamond told reporters in Tirana.
[6] Population Shifts Are Not a Strategy, Officials Explain>Albania has no strategy to encourage population shifts to relatively developped areas of the country, officials in Tirana said. Albania's vice prime minister Dashamir Shehi told Parliament that nevertheless, the government has plans to move some 5,000 northern families to the suburbs of capital Tirana. The displaced families were affected by the construction 15 years ago of a large hydro-power station at Fierza in northern Albania. Officials are also trying to accomodate other groups of families claiming compensation for displacements by the past communist government.
[7] Unemployment Still a ProblemAlbania continues to struggle with mass unemployment, statistics show. The country with a population of 3 million has about 262 thousand unemployed. About 140 thousand families live on the poverty line. During the first half of 1995, Tirana had more than 12,800 families receiving benefits from a $270,000 government welfare fund.
[8] Copper Wire Plant Back to WorkA copper wire factory in the nothern city of Shkodra has resumed operations. The Chinese built factory is currently employing about 250 workers. The factory is manufacturing telephone cables and electric wires for domestic use. The state owned factory has signed contracts with Telecom and the Albanian Electroenergy Corporation. The factory uses raw material from the Rubik Copper Refinery which has pledged to supply the Shkodra facility with 70 tons refined copper a month.
[9] Commission to Supervise Investment FundsThe Albanian ministry of finances has set up a commission to supervise investment funds. The commission will grant licences for establishing investment funds and will supervise the fund operations. A decision to create the supervisory body was made by the Council of Ministers on September 25 this year.
[10] Coca-Cola Bottling Enterprise GrowsCoca-Cola Bottling Enterprise Tirana (CCBET) has doubled its workers since its start in May 1994, company officials said. The company now employs140 workers, all Albanians. CCBET has also created side jobs in wholesale and retail distribution in the local economy. CCBET is operated by the Italian Busi Group which owns the majority of shares. The operation started with recyclable 0.21 Oz glass bottles and has expanded to bigger glass and plastic containers manufactured locally. The cans are imported. On the average, every Albanian has tasted more than 12 bottles of Coca-Cola from the CCBET, company officials said. |
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