Prime Minister Edi Rama extended an invitation to the Italian entrepreneurship on Monday to more investments in Albania where there is a tremendous potential growth and investment opportunities, particularly in the area of tourism and agro-tourism. Taking advantage of the Albania-Italy Business Forum, which brought together around 350 Italian entrepreneurs in Tirana, with the presence of Italian deputy minister of Economic Development, Ivan Scalfarotto, Prime Minister Rama emphasised that Albania offers investment opportunities in many sectors such as energy, mining, agriculture but especially tourism which is acknowledging an increase even beyond local tour operators possibilities, becoming one of the most attractive areas on investments. “The country has major growth potentials and ample investment opportunities in energy, oil, minerals extraction and agriculture sectors in particular agro-food sector. However, tourism is the space where opportunities are accompanied by overwhelming investments possibilities which grow exponentially every year. A lot remains to be done in this area indeed, while demand keeps growing and it is unattainable in terms of the supply. Our tour operators turn down five percent of the demand, who come from Central and Northern Europe as well as Italy,” Prime Minister said.

In addition, Mr. Rama enumerated some of the reasons that make Albania a success guarantee: “Taxes are very low, bureaucracy as well. We have an advantageous legislation to all those willing to invest in tourism. Anyone who would invest in a 4 or 5-star hotel facilities would be tax exempt for a 10-year period. Zero construction tax, zero ownership tax, zero profit tax, just a 6 percent VAT rate. Afterwards if wanted they could obtain free casino and maritime licences. We are drafting an incentives package for investments in agro-tourism based on the Italian model especially the one Italy used to do in early ‘90s where tourism sector has undergone major changes and has brought about an exponential increase in agro-tourism based on a support programme. We are undertaking a regulation process considering elimination of ample administrative red tape barriers by reducing the time an enterprise needs to establish its activity here. We have also introduced the figure of the Minister of State for Enterprise Protection, meaning that any concern to any entrepreneurship forwarded to the minister will be an issue the government will cope with itself,” the Premier said.

In terms of legal safety, he guaranteed that even those hitherto evidenced cases as being problematic will be minimised, as soon as the judicial reform implementation starts. “I believe we are at an excellent phase to tell you that Albania is the right country where any Italian entrepreneur should feel safe to profit not to lose. The judicial reform is an important element of guarantee,” Prime Minister Edi Rama said.