Dear reader,
2017 brought a new solid government, a new (temporary) chief prosecutor, new initiatives against organized crime and corruption, more tourists than ever, better roads, a cleaner country and new hope for the opening of the EU membership negotiations in 2018.
But more foreign investments in manufacture, real estate, service and tourism are still badly needed. A successful reform of the judiciary is the "conditio sine qua non" so both the government - but especially the somewhat behaviorally disordered opposition - will no doubt be challenged on these issues from January 1.
Albanian Institute of Statistics (INSTAT), in collaboration with Bank of Albania, is compiling for the first time a separate publication for foreign enterprises and their impact on the Albanian economy. Read on....
Street food in Tirana? - for locals and for tourists!
The Danish restaurateur and entrepreneur Ole T. Kristensen proposes to transfer the successful Copenhagen Street food concept to Tirana. He finds the pyramid the perfect place but another location might also be of interest. About 7.000 sqm are needed. Interested? Mr. Kristensen can be contacted on +45 93200300.
The fight against plastic bags goes on...
In April 2017 the municipality of Tirana agreed with supermarkets and bakeries to reduce the use of plastic bags by putting an, although low, price on plastic bags. The agreement until now seems to have reduced the use of plastic bags with about 40%.
The above picture shows the next step, an awareness campaign where young volunteers are offering visitors of the New bazaar in Tirana fabric for plastic.
INSTAT on unemployment
The Institute of Statistics reported that in the third quarter of the year the unemployment rate in the country was 13.6%. This rate is 1.1% lower than the same quarter last year and 0.3% less than the second quarter of this year. Referring to the labor force survey figures, there are some market trends. First, sectors that have generated more employment have been services and industry compared to the 2016 quarter as agriculture has continued to shrink. While in the ratio of unemployed women and men, the rate remains higher in the latter.
With the motto "Let's clean the city for the New Year to find us clean", the Municipality of Tirana organized on December 23. the voluntary cleaning action in all Tirana administrative units.
After attending the launch of the national cleaning action the Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, held a meeting with all Tirana's administrators for the coordination of local structures and awareness of citizens who to join the action to clear the capital.
He stressed that it is important, in addition to the daily work done by the cleaning companies, to undertake such initiatives that affect the maintenance of the clean city. "It is in the dignity of our city that the New Year finds us clean. We are joining the national cleaning action even at the neighborhood level. But I want to add that this is our year and today Tirana is no doubt not only the cleanest city in Albania but also one of the cleanest cities in the Balkans".
The Albanian Eurovision 2018 Song Contest contribution
Eugent Bushpepa has won the 56th edition of Festivali i Këngës, the Albanian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. Eugent will perform the song 'Mall' at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon. Listen...
That´s all for now,
sincerely,
Hans-Georg Nielsen
Albanian Honorary Consul
PS. This newsletter is mainly sent to relevant Danish and Albanian authorities, to Danes who have shown interest in Albania, to Albanians living in Denmark and to the friends and contacts of the consulate.
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