Mission of Italian Investors in Albania
(ACIT and EDEM contributions)

18 – 21 May 2005

Organized by Italian Investors Association (AIIOA) and Italian Institute of Foreign Trade (ICE), a group of 20 Italian Investors from Puglia region visited Albania with the purpose to engage in joint-ventures with Albanian companies.

The sectors of interest were from constructioon, transportation, metal processing, agro-food (flour, water, coffee, etc), footwear, information technology, promotion, education, services, etc.

As regard to the first request, ACIT, together with representatives from government agencies (ANIH, ANE, Chamber of Commerce) provided feedback and answered on May 18, during a 3-hours session, to several questions posed by the Italian investors on economic and business environment, as well as challenges and opportunities in Albania. Investors’ questions aimed elaboration on several aspects such as taxes, banking, road infrastructure, education and professional formation, free trade of Albania with EU and regional countries, regional opportunities and how Albania can serve as a bridge for Italian investors to enter Balcan markets, corridor VIII, consumers percepetions on Made in Italy brands, labor costs, competition rules, etc.

Verbal requests for market research for specific products in Albania were posed by individual companies in the water bottling and metal processing.

As regard to the second request, ACIT, in collaboration with EDEM, provided a list of serious Albanian companies in the above-mentioned sectors. Sectorial tables with Italian and Albanian companies took place on May 19.

As reported by Italian Industrialists’ Association, which is recently based in Tirana, about 250 Italian companies located in Bari area are interested to know more about business opportunities in Albania and need information and serious contacts in Albania. The collaboration established so far with this association, as well as with AIIOA and ICE represent work opportunities in view of ACIT Resource Center and EDEM’s competitiveness activities.

Details on profiles of each Italian investor in this mission are in hard format at ACIT office or nearby AIIOA.