The Western Balkans Investment Summit for the year 2024 is being held at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) headquarters in London this Monday.
During his speech, the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, shared his suggestions for encouraging new investments and cooperation in regional and cross-border projects.
Speaking online, Rama expressed that Albania has undergone significant changes, citing the achievement of 10 million tourists last year as a success example. He emphasized that the public debt in the country has dropped below 60% for the first time.
“The region is changing, the world is changing, Albania has changed. From a country with the stigma of insecurity to a country that achieved a figure of 10 million tourists last year. The difference from 10 years ago is that our resources are diversifying with solar and wind energy. Our system, which was almost collapsing because the majority of the population did not pay the bill, now has a different outlook. The price of electricity has not changed even in times of crisis, while public debt has reached a historic level, below 60%,” stated Rama.
He also emphasized that Albania, along with other countries in the region, is a favorable destination for serious investments. In response to the question of why investors should invest in Albania, Rama said, “One simple answer is: They should because if they don’t, someone else will”.
This is the sixth summit of its kind that the EBRD organizes, and the Western Balkans remain a priority region for the EBRD. The international financing organization is one of the largest investors in the countries of the region, with over 18 billion euros financed to date.
