Prime Minister Edi Rama paid a visit to Sweden at the invitation of Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven. During this visit, the Prime Minister attended two important events.

An initiative for the establishment of the Investment and Development Council was launched during the meeting at the Swedish Business Chamber in Stockholm. This council is a subset of the National Economic Council, and it will be attended also by a group of Swedish investors and businesses. The purpose of this Council will be to assist the Government in its efforts to increase the number of foreign investments in the country, in addition to promoting and facilitating Swedish investments in Albania.

The Prime Minister said that the Council will contribute to the economic growth, further modernization of the business climate in Albania, and to attracting Swedish investments. He added that another factor of success is that the Council will be co-chaired by former Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson, a determined reformer who led a transformational program of deep economic and financial reforms in Sweden.

On his part, former Prime Minister Persson expressed confidence that the establishment of the Council will help promote the development of potentials in Albania.

“We are very happy for this collaboration. We have all reasons to believe that the successful work done by Prime Minister Rama as mayor of Tirana is a job that he could do well for the whole country. We are confident that Albania has great chances for the future, and if you prepare well for European Union membership and Justice Reform, you will be a very attractive destination for foreign direct investments. This is something that we can help you achieve, this is why we this Council was launched, and I am very interested in a close cooperation with your Prime Minister, Mr Edi Rama” – Persson said.

Sweden has an international reputation and experience in reforms. The Swedish industry is internationally competitive and has a healthy financial sector. This Council will guide the work towards European standards in Albania, which, as participants in the meeting noted, needs to continue on the path of reforms in order to increase competitiveness and become more attractive for investments. We are impressed, they said, by the high ambitions and goals, and we have seen at the same time the great challenges that Albania has faced in order to become economically and politically part of Europe, and create prosperity for its citizens.

Prime Minister Rama attended also the conference “Progressive Governance”, with a focus on education and knowledge. The Prime Minister spoke about the developments of recent years in Albania in the field of education, noting that he believes strongly that countries do not differ from what they have, but from what they know. Therefore, the approach of the Albanian government has been for a comprehensive reform in the educational system and its institutions.

“The difference is knowledge, and what we are trying to do is to bring the best knowledge in our institutions and transform our educational system, which was based on the idea that university was for everyone, which later degraded in the idea universities everywhere” – the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister noted also that in the past three years the efforts of the government have focused on the development of vocational education as a viable training option, especially for young people, in order to better respond to labour market conditions, in addition to being a real employment opportunity.

“We strongly believe in the German model of dual vocational education. We have started to see results, but it takes time and a lot of patience”, the Prime Minister said.

 

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During his visit to Stockholm, Prime Minister Edi Rama met also with Parliament Speaker, Urban Ahlin. The two dignitaries discussed the possibilities of increasing cooperation between the two countries. After ascertaining the common will of the overall development of bilateral relations, discussions focused on a better use of the opportunities that enhance economic cooperation, exchanges, and Swedish investments in Albania. Of particular interest is the increased bilateral cooperation in the field of tourism, an area with high development potential in Albania, for which Prime Minister Rama said that investors and Swedish citizens are welcome.