Oil reform and the abolition of excise on fuel for the fisheries sector have made the fish industry in Albania breathe. Thanks to this reform, but also to other reliefs such as obtaining the lease contract for 1 euro and increased fish quotas for Albania in the European markets to 20% have enabled the company “Rozafa”, the Albanian brand of the fish industry in foreign markets, to launch the implementation of the largest fish processing facility in Elbasan. In a meeting held today in Labinot, Elbasan, with Spanish and Italian investors engaged and interested in this sector, Prime Minister Edi Rama promised support for the revival of this industry. This is an investment that has created real employment. During today’s visit in the plant, the Prime Minister was informed by the entrepreneur on the investment plan. Upon completion of another two phases of investment, the entrepreneur intends to increase the number of employees to 1,300 from the current 300 employees.
“This industry will be totally revived, and it will allow Albania to be a strong presence in international markets thanks to its own products”, the Prime Minister said.
The “Rozafa”-branded products have been known for a long time in the regional and European market. The entrepreneur said that the launch of the new facility aims at expanding the processing range of fish products destined for the European and Japanese market. “We will restore the tradition and will release our “Made in Albania” products with more dignity, in addition to increasing exports in Europe. The oil reform is the only reform that revived our sector. We will increase the total number of employees to 1200-1300 people. This will take the size of a very large economic area”- the entrepreneur said speaking about his investment plans.
The Prime Minister assured that the government will support any effort and initiative aimed at developing this industry in Albania. One of these efforts is the launch of fish markets across the country, the first of which is expected to be launched in Durres.
“We are very encouraged because the step that we took with oil has started to yield results, first of all because people of the sector are motivated, and second because it has encouraged us to look much farther than yesterday, when we were struggling on a daily basis for survival. I am absolutely convinced that this is the right way, and it is about time to have in Albania fish markets as anywhere in the world. After all, these are instruments to give real value to this very precious this commodity, which we have in large quantity and therefore we have never estimated enough. In this regard as well we will strongly support the progress of this program, and it will be the first market in the fishing port of Durres”- the prime minister assured.
The prime minister highlighted also a particular fact related to the social aspect of this investment, because a nursery and a kindergarten will be part of the facility, thus adding another standard in the treatment and protection of the dignity of all employees, the Prime Minister said.
