Prime Minister Edi Rama today was invited to attend the Mediterranean Blue Economy forum held on the sidelines of the third edition of the annual International Trade Fair held at Fiera Del Levante, Bari, Italy. Albania was represented by its stands in this fair that were visited by the Premier.

Remarks by PM Rama at the Fiera del Levante forum:

I would to thank a lot both friends on my left and right. They are not only on my left and right, but they are also leftists and rightists and this is an image showing everything about relations between Italy and Albania that never move towards these political categories, but remain on these rails, both on left and right, just to move forward.

Frankly, anytime visiting Italy, we really feel ourselves at home here in Apulia, because of the strong ties and the unprecedented similarities. Yesterday I was pleased to find out that I and Michele share a common “suffering”, because we both are flooded with text messages sent by citizens, who ask for our assistance in overcoming the difficulties they encounter when dealing with the administration.

Of course, the today’s Apulia is not like it used to be few years ago and it now represents a completely different reality and provides an example about everything on how it sees the future by having the courage to go beyond the everyday things. There are certainly of lot of things we can do together and do a lot more than we have already done, because we share not only a past friendship and a common sense of the worlds, but also common interests.

Michele always says humorously that Apulia is a region of Albania. I do always think that Apulia should see Albania as it “natural” part in order to expand joint projects for a shared future.

To us, the sea and maritime economy is a new discovery. We should recall that just 50 years ago, the sea was to us a banned territory, because we were isolated and nobody ever imagined to go any farther than the permissible 100-meter stretch of beach and water, while the rest was a desert behind of which lied the dearest and most dreamed Italy.

Today is completely different, but we need to do a lot more. I believe it is quite evident that we share common interests in the area of “blue economy.” Just like it is clear that it is only a winners’ situation if we were to come together and expand this tourist space by, of course, taking advantage of this reshaping of the Apulia region that has become an increasingly attracting destination for all types of tourism consumer, but by including Albania that is experiencing a strong tourism growth. Albania is experiencing a strong growth in its tourism as this sector is increasing year by year. The number of foreign tourist arrivals have recorded a twofold increase over the past four years, surging to over 6 million visitors a year, up from 2.9 to 3.1 foreigners who visited the country previously. This foreign tourist arrival represents very significant figures, but they also represent a challenge to Albania, because we should respond to this growing influx by boosting the accommodation capacities and infrastructure and improve service.

Albania is today the space where the Italian entrepreneurs can invest without being scared by taxes and bureaucracy. Whoever invests in building five-star hotels in Albania today he will be excluded from paying any tax and a 6 percent VAT rate only in the first ten years. Those earning their living on tourism understand quite well what does this mean.

Almost the same is the case of investing in agritourism, where a five percent profit tax and six percent VAT rate is applied. Albania is quite a normal country in terms of tax rates levied on other business activities too. Compared to Italy, Albania is a paradise.

We have great respect and growing interest in establishing links between the university and academic world and healthcare services.

We show utmost care towards all foreign entrepreneurs and Apulia investors in particular. An Apulia centre operates in Tirana, managed from our friends from Apulia. They know that our doors are always open to them and they are not forced to wait for a permit. After all, we are very close to each other geographically. It took half of time to arrive in Bari compared to the time we need to transcend the distance between Tirana and Vlora.

Thank you!