Speech of Prime Minister Edi Rama at the ceremony for the 20th anniversary of the creation of the Albanian-American Fund:
Welcome!
The creation of the Albanian-American Fund in 1995 by US President Bill Clinton marked the beginning of a new chapter for Albania and for the special relationship between the United States and our country. But before this fund was created after 52 years of absence, the diplomatic relations between Albania and the United States were restored on March 15, 1991, and only three months later former Secretary of State James Baker visited Tirana. All those who witnessed that visit remember how the square “Skanderbeg” was filled as never before, by reserving a memorable reception to the man who came from America. This reception is embedded in the memory of all the witnesses.
Another great American president, Woodrow Wilson, provided the necessary support to the recognition of the new Albanian state created in 1912.
All of this relationship is a relationship in September 2015 filled 93 years. Now after 93 years of relations with the US are the best possible Albania with another country, but on the other hand are those relationships that have given another dimension to the Albanians not only in Korea but also in the region.
This is a 93-year long relationship. Now after 93 years, relations with the US are the best possible relations that Albania has had with another country, but on the other hand they have given another dimension to Albanians not only in Albania but also in the region.
The Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership between Albania and the United States signed on 20 April 2015 reflects at best the very high level of these partnership relations, and embodies a concrete and comprehensive calendar of cooperation.
Assistance in the democratization of our country, but also the settlement of the Albanian issue of Kosovo Albanian, are of course due mostly and primarily to the United States, as are obviously the excellent relations between the United States and Albania.
Against this background I believe that it is more readable what the Albanian-American has brought in Albania, as the last link of a chain of funds created by the presidents of the United States for the development of the private sector in countries that had just emerged from behind the curtain iron. The funds that were created as a proof of support by the United States to a transition from a society where everything was ours but nothing belonged to anyone, in another society where everyone has the right to earn what they deserve, but we all together have the obligation to build a coexistence that makes possible the blooming of everybody’s rights.
I believe that if a paraphrasing were required on the occasion of the anniversary of the Albanian-American Fund, we would use the words of a renowned American entrepreneur, Scott Belsky, who said “It’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen.”
The Albanian-American Fund was evidence and remains testimony to the fact that ideas are valid when they become reality. US Fund Albania became witness to the truth that it is possible that the ideas are realized. It is possible to invest in a bold, transparent and successful way. And so I believe that beyond all merit that reserve fund itself and those running or to keep it alive in everyday life, the main merit of the Fund is the model.
In Albania, the US Fund became witness to the truth that it is possible to make ideas happen. It is possible to invest in a bold, transparent and successful way. And so I believe that beyond every merit that the Fund reserves to itself and to those running it or to keeping it alive in the everyday life, the main merit of the Fund is the model.
The model that it has created as a reference point for all those who need a model to encourage them on the way to entrepreneurial ideas. The fund has created over 20 years the largest set of partnerships with the government, with other sources of capital or with local and foreign experts. No other organization in Albania has such diversity of partnerships that the Fund has managed to establish.
An initial capital of 30 million generated in a period of 20 years a value of approximately 300 million dollars, and the Albanian-American Fund became, perhaps, I say perhaps because I do not want to be unfair to anybody, the most successful Fund in the chain of funds. The Fund has invested in more than 40 societies, it has generated over 7 thousand jobs and has contributed to the National Domestic production of 2 billion dollars, directly or indirectly. Fund investments have attracted foreign direct investment of 300 million dollars to Albania.
The Fund has invested in more than 40 companies; it has generated over 7 thousand jobs and has contributed to the GDP with 2 billion dollars, directly or indirectly. The Fund investments have attracted foreign direct investments of 300 million dollars to Albania.
On the other hand, the Fund has also brought an innovative approach, by opening paths and creating conditions for others to take these paths. From the textile industry, to shopping malls, from the airport to banks, security documents with modern technology, to participation to rebuild urban areas in view of the business involvement, and to the contribution to bring home the armor and weapons of Skanderbeg on the occasion of the 100th anniversary, and that year the exposition was visited by 1, 5 million people, a record that will remain unbeatable until the 200th anniversary of independence, when the technology of the time the Fund could resuscitate Skanderbeg .
The multilingual signs, the creation of a modern electronic box-office, the installation of security cameras, improvement of infrastructure in the National Park of Butrint, these also are contributions of the fund. Maybe the money allocated for these I mention now is not that much, but for the quality it brings it is a lot, and this is another ability of the fund to make a little money look a lot. At this point, the debate continues. The fund has become the first foreign investor in the insurance industry in Albania through SIGAL, and it is since then that this industry has gained momentum, while the company in question has expanded regionally. The fund has established an international consortium to build and manage Tirana International Airport, and although it has been very successfully, there is still an ongoing debate. The fund has led an international partnership to launch the company for the production of security documents, and made possible the radical transformation of passports and ID cards of Albanians.
Today, over 75% of the Albanian population has biometric passports, security standards many times higher than many European Union countries. I do not mean by this that we are second after Germany, but I mean that in this case, the Fund, like every other times, showed the ambition to move with the times, and not to be satisfied with what often many entrepreneurs in Albania, domestic or foreign, are satisfied, “good for Albania”, we’ll think of the rest later.
Today, 99% of citizens meeting age requirements have ID cards. In addition, the Fund created in 2009 an own organization of heritage, which is another very important part of this 20-year story, the Albanian-American Foundation for Development with a core capital exceeding 185 million dollars. This figure was given us by the boys at the Fund. I do not know what you mean by “exceeding”, but at least give us this “exceeding” part.
The Foundation is already the largest non-profit organizations in Albania, having invested in 25 projects, has contributed – even here they said over $ 18 million – in education, enterprise leadership development, and support for the cultural development and eco-tourism. I’m not a good bookkeeper, but their core capital exceeds 185 million dollars, and so far they have invested over 18 million dollars, I hope that we will have a progressive increase, even now that the Fund turned 20 and is fully mature to access the third decade of life, which is also the one deciding on the fates of everyone.
American investments in Albania have increased and consolidated in the last two decades. There are many American businesses, exactly 157 of them, let’s not say that they exceed 157, but I believe I am not wrong and I do not do this to increase the credits of the Fund when I say that, the Fund deserves also credit for establishing trust in other investors. The success stories, whether of the Fund or of other undertakings, are in my view the best way to promote Albania as far as its ability to attract investment and to make possible the development of investments is concerned.
I did not forget, but I wanted to highlight it as a fantastic example of success of the Fund, the establishment of the American Bank of Albania in 1998, which transformed the banking sector in Albania, introduced modern and innovative products, both for the enterprise and for individuals. All those who have been involved with the American Bank of Albania, remember it with nostalgia. The fund decided to sell it, it might decide to buy it, given the nostalgia it has left behind, and who knows, it may be a successful operation. But it is certain that the American Bank of Albania became the second largest financial institution in Albania, serving over 120 thousand customers. I’m not saying what the initial capital was, for it was ridiculously small compared to the exceptional result it achieved.
Do you want me to tell any more about Belul? In this case Belul is the Fund, it’s not me. I don’t know how the translator translated this expression, but Belul also is part of history, especially of the last 20 and some years in which we have seen him in different shapes and names.
There’s nothing left to say but to express gratitude to all those who are part of this 20-year success story, and congratulate them on this 20th anniversary. May you grow wiser, and no matter how much you grow, I hope you will never lose your passion and possibly the revolutionary naivety of the early days. Of those days when the Fund was launched as a last attempt among all the funds created by US Presidents to turn into such an obvious success story. In this story the Fund deserves also credit for being among the few topics, cases and names that are not a reason for political struggle. So, whether we love each or not, we love the fund.
Many thanks!
***
Had it not been organized in advance, I would have thought of it as a revenge on the Fund’s part for not having mentioned this program in all the successes and achievements of the Fund. But, in fact, it was organized, and on this day special anniversary for the Fund, in which it received a Medal of Gratitude, I believe that it was quite right to not have here all the protagonists of those successes, neither bankers nor traders, nor the representatives of the cities where the Fund has intervened, but to have here the protagonists of this program, which is a new program. I underline what Michael said, this is a program that brings once again a model.
Michael said that the government is willing to involve those who are prepared. Should they have more prepared stuff, we would be happy and would include them. But on the other hand, as in every Fund’s story, those who are fewer do more. It is not just the number of people who are being trained and increase their capacity through this program, but it’s the program that gives us a chance to widen the roads through other sources and institutions themselves, in order to acquire and consolidate this model.
I will conclude with an expression by John Kennedy, which applies very well to this moment, but also to the Fund that made this choice. On one occasion John Kennedy said “Leading and teaching are part of the same thing”. In fact, the fund leads but it does also teach. I’m not dwelling into saying that behind all this there is a long-term goal of Michael to renew the generation of board members, because the Fund was created and is destined to survive, as Michael said, those who created it. So, young men and women here present, do not be surprised if one day – not now, but after a few years – you get a phone call by Michael Granoff for proposing any of you to become a member of the Fund.
Many thanks for being here! I show once again gratitude for the contributions you have given, and particularly for those you will give in the future!
Thank you!
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Prime Minister Edi Rama organized today in the “Hall of Maps” in the Prime Minister’s Office a ceremony on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Albanian-American Development Fund in our country. The reception was attended by President of the Fund, Michael Granoff, as well as by students of the program “Lead Albania”.
The Albanian-American Fund was established in 1995 by US President Bill Clinton. Prime Minister Rama defined the establishment of the Fund as the beginning of a new chapter for bilateral relations between Albania and the US.
Prime Minister Rama noted among other things that the Albanian-American Fund is a model that has served as a reference point for all those who need it on the path to entrepreneurial ideas in our country.
For the contribution given in the 20 years of presence in Albania, Prime Minister Rama gave President of the Fund, Michael Granoff, a “Medal of Gratitude”.
