Support Was Given To The Symposium On How Turkish-Albanian Economic Relations Can Be Improved

Through the contributions of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency Directorate the symposium on how Turkish-Albanian Economic Relations Can Be Developed organized in cooperation with the International Development and Cooperation Association and Economic Research Foundation was held in the Tirana International Hotel, hosted by the Vitrina University in Albania’s capital Tiran.

The symposium which was organized to develop the economic relations between Turkey and Albania was attended by the Turkish Ambassador’s Undersecretary to Tiran Bengül Tetik, TİKA Albanian Program Coordination Office Coordinator Prof. Dr. Birol Çetin, the International Development and Coordination Organization General Manager Şefik Kantar, the Economic Research Foundation Chairman Prof. Dr Ahmet İncekara, the Vitrina University Rector EdmondVlaskaj, Turkey’s Foreign Affairs Consultant Muharrem Can, the Albanian Chamber of Commerce Chairman Nikolin Jake, teaching staff invited from both Turkey and Albania, nongovernmental community organizations, representatives of the business world and a number of media representatives.

Turkey’s Tiran Embassy Undersecretary Tetik who made a speech at the symposium said that the Albanian economy had been developing in recent years. It was explained by Tetik that although Turkish companies were not at the desired level in the Albanian economy market share, they did have a place in sectors like the banking, communication and mining sectors and that symposiums, conferences and meetings to be organized concerning the development of Turkish – Albanian relations would enable the Turkish companies to increase their market share in the Albanian economy.

The International Development and Cooperation Organization General Manager Kantar said that this symposium was organized for the development of economical relations between Turkey and Albania within the scope of developing economic relations with Balkan countries. International Development and Cooperation Organization General Manager Kantar also pointed out that the goal of the representatives participating from the Turkish and Albanian business worlds was to develop business relations between the countries.

Tiran Chamber of Commerce Chairman Jaka pointed out that the economic relations between Turkey and Albania are based on a long history but the export and import between the two countries is not sufficient. Tiran Chamber of Commerce Chairman Jaka said that according to 2012 data the import of Albania from Turkey was 276,145 million USD and export was 122,400 million USD and emphasized that the export and import between the two countries needs to be increased. The Tiran Chamber of Commerce Chairman Jaka emphasized that the symposium will accelerate the Turkish – Albanian relations and expressed gratitude to the organizations that contributed and to TİKA.

TİKA Albania Program Coordination Office Coordinator Prof. Dr. Çetin gave examples of TİKA’s activities in Albania and pointed out that they have provided serious support towards the development of Albania. TİKA Program Coordinator Prof. Dr. Çetin also added that he thought the symposium would take the economic relations between the two countries to an even more advanced level.

Economic Research Foundation Chairman Prof. İncekara said that it is important for us to improve our educational, cultural and social relations as well as our economic relation with Albania, a country with strategic importance in the Balkan geography.

During the symposium the obstructions to the development of Turkish – Albanian relations, the measures that need to be taken in both countries and the threats and advantages in the market were discussed while the responsibilities that fall on everyone to increase relations were emphasized.