UK – Albania Business & Economic Reform Forum, Tirana, Albania, January 25, 2012

Mr Janez Podobnik, Senior advisor to DG dr. Štefan Bogdan Šalej has attended the International UK-Albania Business & Economic Reform Forum in Tirana on 25. January 2012. This International forum was organized by British Embassy in Tirana and the International Business & Diplomatic Exchange IBDE. Last September, during the ICPE High Level Meeting of the State Ownership Authorities, ICPE signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IBDE and that is just one of the reasons, why Mr Podobnik attended the conference on behalf of DG dr. Štefan Bogdan Šalej.

The key topics at the conference were covered in two panel sessions: Doing business in Albania – Economic Reform Progress and the second one, namely Albania is Open for Business. The panellists included some ministers from Albanian Government, international experts for foreign investments from UK, high level representatives of state institutions from Albania and many entrepreneurs and businessmen from Albania, as well as UK.

Mr Janez Podobnik made a presentation on new approaches in Public-Private partnerships, which make an excellent example of acquring capital in Albania and reffered to the contribution by Mr Majlind Lazimi, whose presentation on State as an owner – ownership policy, execution of state interests and fostering public private dialogue; Albanian Case was seen at the ICPE High Level Meeting of the State Ownership Authorities in September 2011. He also mentioned the Integrated Coastal Area Management (ICAM) concept, which was underlined by Albanian Minister for Tourism, Cultural affairs, Youth and Sport, Mr Aldo Bumci, who also presented one of the projects, that has been undertaken at ICPE, the ICAM Conference.

Mr Janez Podobnik met with the director of IBDE, Mr Rudi Guraziu and his deputy, MR Alfred Kovaci, and based on the signed Memorandum of Cooperation both sides expressed willingness, to organize a High Level Regional Conference in first half of May 2012, with cooperation by the office of European Commission in Tirana. The proposed theme is focus on the promotion and enhancemnet of public-private partnership as well as an effective management of public sector enterprises in South East Europe/Balkans.

ICPE presence at this Forum was possible because of the fruitful connections, established at the ICPE High Level Meeting of the State Ownership Authorities, Ljubljana, on 5., 6. February 2011.