This morning, Prime Minister Rama had a working coffee with intellectuals, architects, artists and leaders of local institutions of Korça district. At this meeting the Prime Minister was accompanied by Deputy PM Niko Peleshi and the Mayor of Korça Sotiraq Filo.

Various topics related to the development of the city were discussed during this meeting, which main focus was the project for the restoration of the Old Bazaar of Korça, as one of the biggest projects of the city.

The Mayor of Korça made a detailed presentation of the project explaining, among other things, that the bazaar will be a touristic element and will function primarily as market and hospitality.

Architects said that the buildings will be restored by adapting to their new function, with modern-system interiors, while the outside will be close to the original.

Zamira Kita, Director of the Theatre of Korça said that this is a very important project and, at the same time, it fulfills a wish expressed by the majority of the citizens of Korça.

Prime Minister Edi Rama congratulated the Municipality of Korça on this project since it develops a strategic area for tourism in Korça and in Albania as well because, after restoration it will be a landmark not only for Korça.

“We are saving an area which is important for the cultural heritage nationwide. This is not a typical bazaar we have inherited from the Ottoman period, but it is a totally different kind and typology of bazaar, built as a trading route under the inspiration of the experiences of those who came from immigration. Actually, after restoration it can become a landmark, more than for Korça, for young tourists who, I believe, will want to get here and live it and enjoy it”, – the Prime Minister said.

Deputy PM Niko Peleshi said that upon restoration, the bazaar will become the most vital part of the town and will influence positively also on the other businesses in Korça. “By looking at it as a model, as a cultural heritage and by vitalizing it, the bazaar will become a very profitable business and will influence positively also the other businesses of the town which, until yesterday, have been thought to be only concrete and multi-storey buildings” – Deputy PM said.

Other projects combining the urban and rural development are expected to be undertaken for the city and for the entire district of Korça district.

Korça was the starting point of the largest national program for the urban transformation of cities throughout the country.