Albania

Further facilitation and liberalisation of trade through strengthening the rule-of-law, according to international trade regulation and based on the Stabilisation and Association process (Sap) with the EU.

Although some evident progress already has been achieved by the Government of Albania in the area of trade liberalisation as well as investment and export promotion through the effective efforts of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy and related state institutions in cooperation with other national and international partners, there remains considerable work to improve the institutional structure and legislative environment for the further trade development, WTO compliance, free trade agreements (FTAs) implementation, export promotion and foreign direct investment (FDI) encouragement.

The two-year project, extended to December 2006, on Support for Trade Regulation and Trade Promotion sponsored under/by European Commission CARDS Programme – Albania and UNDP Albania is designed to consolidate the capacity of the Albanian Ministry of Economy and related national Agencies in the area of the EC Stabilisation and Association process (Sap) and WTO trade regulation and liberalisation together with support efforts to promote trade, increase exports and raise FDI inflow into the Albanian economy.

Trade Regulation

• Strengthened Albanian Unit for WTO Relations & Economic Integration (SWREI) capacities and skills in implementing legislation;
• Monitoring process in place for EU, WTO and regional Foreign Trade Agreement (FTA) compliancy;
• Implemented FTAs with EU and regional bilateral FTAs;
• Key legislation harmonized with EU requirements;
• Capacity increased for improved trade in financial services

Trade, Export and Investment Promotion

• Strengthened Directorate of Business Promotion (DoBP) in Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy (MoETE)
• A range of advisory support available to exporters;
• Developed and operational Albanian Trade Information Centre;
• Trade and technical information services provided for exporters;
• Export training services for the Ministry of Economy (MoETE) and the EPA; key actors trained;
• Improved trade policy;
• Increased awareness of export opportunities in selected sectors;
• Overall increase in exports;
• ALBINVEST capacities and skills strengthened;
• Key FDI actors trained;
• Improved FDI Policy;
• Increased interest in FDI through targeted awareness-raising campaign;
• Overall increase in investment, including foreign investment.

• Albanian Unit for WTO Relations & Economic Integration within the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy(MoETE);
• Directorate of Business Promotion (DoBP) within the MoETE;
• Albinvest.