This weekend, Prime Minister Rama paid a visit in Dhërmi and Borsh, two villages along the Coast, and met with residents and local leaders as well as closely followed the progress of the work for cleaning and adjustment of beach areas. Dhërmi was the first meeting place of the Prime Minister with the camp of volunteers, a program of the Coastal National Agency for clean beaches in collaboration with the Armed Forces, volunteers, and other members of civil society.
Praising their contribution and high accountability as citizens, the Prime Minister said that thanks to the colossal work done in this regard, this year the coast is much cleaner compared to previous years.
The Prime Minister shared with residents of Dhërmi and local leaders the latest news on the government’s projects for the development of the area and of tourism, and discussed with them different issues concerning order, property, constructions along the coast, etc. The Prime Minister informed residents that the international competition for the New Himara Coast and the rehabilitation of its wonderful villages will be launched in September.
The Prime Minister said that the RAB Project (Architectural Rehabilitation of the Coast Villages of Himara) is fundamental for the new program of economic development of Himara which was reborn from the new territorial division. Later, Prime Minister Rama visited the tourist village of Borsh, whose beach can from now on be accessed from the newly constructed road “Qazim Pali”. The 2 km-long road segment connects the national road Sarandë-Vlorë with the Beach of Borsh and is an investment worth over 100 million Lekë financed by the Albanian Government and the OPEC Fund for International Development within the Project “Improvement of Secondary and Local Roads”. The new road has significantly improved circulation, not only for the residents of the villages Qazim Pali and Borsh but also for numerous tourists, domestic and foreign, who come to the Beach of Borsh, making it even more appealing and with an impact on the income growth of small family businesses that provide services in this beach.
In a meeting with residents of Borsh, Prime Minister Rama focused on the effects that the new territorial division will have on communities, since it will create opportunities to address after so many years major problems with water, transforming the entire system of water management in Albania. “Until today”, the Prime Minister continued, “the solutions to this problem have totally failed, having dire consequences for entire communities and areas like this one, that instead of being areas where water quality is one of the reasons to be proud of and to promote the area, is one of the reasons to feel ashamed, because we all know the problem with polluted water as well as with drinking water.” The Prime Minister said that in addition, the transition from a very large number of local units at republic level in a limited number enables integrated systems of waste treatment to be much more efficient.
The Prime Minister assured that the government’s numerous investments that are about to be implemented in this area, such as the power supply network or water supply and sewerage system, will finally resolve the problematic situation inherited in years.
“We have prepared, and not only in words, since it has already started, the project for the rehabilitation of the power supply network for the entire area. Two new substations will be built and the funding for their construction has already been ensured, so we believe that the major problem of the low voltage faced also during the tourist season by the hospitality structures will be solved once and for all.” – Prime Minister said. He also said that the investments not done in this area during all these years, from now on will bring successful and visible changes. “We strongly believe that next year we will be able to talk about many things and many more investments will be settled. Simply, this year we have put at disposal of the area a number of investments that equal all the investments not done in all these years, including the power network, roads, and the new loop of Himara, but also the new road that will connect Kuç with the coast. Not to mention the first model of the new urban development, the promenade of Qeparo which will start, I think by the end of this month. Next year we will go further with many more investments, I believe.” – Prime Minister said. While praising the transformed landscape of the coast, the Prime Minister announced to residents the new project for the architectural rehabilitation of the coastal villages. “We are told by everybody that we have a lot more cleaner coast compared to previous years and to last year, but this is just the beginning. The most important thing is of course, as mentioned by the director of the Albanian Development Fund and Deputy Minister of Urban Development, the fact that this integrated project, which is not only urban but also economic and social, will ne harmonized with the results we will take from the international competition for the coastline of the new Municipality of Himara that will be launched in September”- Prime Minister said.
The Albanian Development Fund has identified approximately 160 rehabilitating projects for infrastructures, including aqueducts and roads that directly affect tourism development and the reconstruction of the cultural heritage, as well as all sources of tourist interest related to the development of the area.
