PM Rama: Albania of honest people opposite to informal Albania

The Prime Minister announced this new measure during his visit to the hydropower plants Rapun 1 and 2 in the stream Rapun, district of Librazhd, which have a capacity of approximately 10 megawatts. The construction of these HPPs will cover the energy needs of the district of Librazhd, an investment that amounts to 25 million Euros.

"It is very important to tell all Albanians from here that thanks to the operation against power theft that has already started and that will not stop, and thanks to this determination to transform this great asset we have which is energy, from a great trouble, from a huge hole from, a rope at the feet of Albanians into a source of prosperity, simply and only the expressed will of this very initial phase made many banks to meet us in order to confirm the will of the government. So, let’s begin work for a financial package, which will enable us to liquidate obligations to all investors in the energy system with these private hydropower plants. This means that we will be able to negotiate an energy price, set in an arbitrary, abusive and irresponsible way by the previous government, in order to take power from these hydropower plants with 10 ALL more than from import. This fact made energy much more expensive and put all these hydropower plants in debt and in a situation of collapse. In addition, this fact makes actually nil the effort to reduce the price of energy from domestic production growth" –  the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister noted that the deep reform in the electricity sector is vital not only for the sector, but also for the future of Albania. In addition, he sought the cooperation of everyone in this major effort, which starts by paying energy bills.

"At the moment we will renegotiate with these hydropower plants, they will be able to provide electricity also to private entities, who would want to take this directly, and this is a first result of this operation. Therefore, I would like to tell all Albanians that European Albania is not continuing on the path of destruction, but it is taking on also the sacrifices of the new road to building European Albania. These sacrifices do not imply by any means energy price increase for those who pay while those who steal shall continue to steal, so that those who pay, pay also for those who steal, but it means that everyone pay what they should pay, so that later we can come to another stage, when we will be able to talk about price reductions and even about VAT reduction on energy for households.

In order to achieve all this, we must fist of all recover a body that is lying on the ground because of the cancer of theft and governmental irresponsibility. So there is no doubt, the operation will continue without compromise, without tolerance, without looking left and right. Who would steal energy has no way to coexist with us, in the freedom of this society, but will go where they belong, under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Albania.”

The Prime Minister considered this, a battle against informal Albania.

"Who would contribute will see year after year a change for which they will be proud themselves to have been part of it.

I thank from the heart and have respect for all those who despite the difficulties continue to pay electricity regularly. I assure them that the government is on their side and that today, we are making their battle. This is the fair battle of Albania, a country that wants to raise its head through work, through real road towards development with an informal Albania, with an Albania that cannot take us far, but rather has brought us on the threshold of the gap, where we came in power only a year ago."

MP of the area Taulant Balla noted that Librazhd is the best payer of electricity in Albania.

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In Librazhd, Prime Minister Rama visited employees of a toll manufacturing factory opened only a short period ago in this district, which has provided 500 jobs. The Prime Minister visited this successful Albanian-Italian venture in textiles and confection, an investment that only in its first phase was one million Euros, to ensure the support of the Government to successful ventures that create real employment.

Albanian entrepreneur of the Investment Group "Liberest" explained that their goal is to bring other businesses in the production of garments and access to foreign markets with the trademark "Made in Albania". "Our tendency in the short term is that we could come out from the toll manufacturing as direct manufacturer in the domestic market, and why not in the overseas market with the trademark "Made in Albania"- he said.

While Italian partner in this collaboration, Roberto Grassi, representative of the company "Alfredo Grassi", thanked the Prime Minister, with whom, he said, shared the idea and got support for the development of this enterprise. In addition, he brought a first impression of the meeting with Prime Minister. "In the first meeting, 6 months ago, he didn’t offer me coffee. I never offer coffee in the first meeting to anyone – he told me – because I want to verify that they will return later. We thank him for everything he has done"- Roberto Grassi said.

Laughing, the Prime Minister said in his speech that "It is true that I never offer coffee to foreigners when they come for the first time, because usually they come, say beautiful words and then disappear. But this time we will offer Roberto Grassi and his team a double espresso, when they come, because those who come back are the ones who seriously invest to take projects further."

The Prime Minister laid emphasis also on the need of investment in vocational training, which will create the conditions for having skilled work force.

"The big challenge of ours, besides creating the conditions for new jobs, is vocational training. Will invest even more, not only for employment, but also for professional training. Not only for vocational education but also to promote training in order to facilitate investors and to cooperate with investors to have as many skilled workforce as possible."

Also, while talking with one of the biggest toll manufacturers in the country, the Prime Minister explained what will happen with the 2015 budget following the 5% increase of profit tax.

"With the 2015 budget, we have made available a special fund to support employment and to support this industry, in particular. In the new 2015 budget, the addition on the profit tax amount of the toll manufacturing companies will return to the fund for employment available for this industry. The increase of 28% of exports, $ 135 million more exports from toll manufacturing, is a result of our joint work. Without prejudice, we have made the support package for 6 months, which has brought us fantastic results. One thing is for sure, who seeks to create jobs in this industry will have the absolute support of the state and will have available the respective employment fund."

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Prime Minister Rama inspected works in the central square of Librazhd, in the framework of the project "Renaissance of Cities".

This project includes the rehabilitation works of the central square of the city with an area of approximately 4500 m2. The square, including sidewalks and the road will be paved with natural stone tiles of the area. The project envisages the expansion of sidewalks and the promenade area. The project also includes the lighting system, building a fountain and restoration of facades. Its key element is the green dimension.

The Prime Minister assured the residents that the projects will continue with the reconstruction of the sport field, and the construction of a camp areas for children.

"We will conclude this investment with the highest quality. As you see, the quality of work and materials is the same as in any European city. We will continue the project to rebuild the sports field and the rest. To build next to the sport filed another filed for children to play, not just for players. This is only the beginning."

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In the new Office for the legalization of informal building in Librazhd, which opened only a month ago, the Prime Minister assured that the process of legalization in this district – which so far has been almost neglected – will be accomplished thoroughly.

As announced by the Director General of the Agency of Legalization and Urbanization of Informal Areas, Artan Lame, the opening of this office was necessary due to the high number of applications and the low pace in issuing permits. "The previous government has issued a total of 55 legalization permits for the entire region of Librazhd in 8 years" – Director Lame said.

The Office Director said that the opening of the Office has significantly accelerated the process. As far as the interest of the Prime Minister on the progress of the issuance of legalization is concerned, he informed that there are approximately 60 legalization permits ready. "We have made 400 applications and 60 permits in a month since this office was opened. The persons who are here have almost taken the permits, while others have been issued from Rrajca to Sterbleve"- the Director of the Office noted.

"For those who have built informal houses, this is the new legalization office; legalizations will be free. Who built to benefit at the expense of others, the game is over and we can do nothing about it; INUK will come."- the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister reiterated the importance of the action by INUK to free public spaces.

"Who tries to confuse the operation by INUK, which will not stop to uproot boils of profit from common spaces of citizens, from the streets, the sidewalks or strategic points of national roads, tries in vain. We will continue, but on the other hand we will legalize absolutely for free, as we have promised, the homes built with savings, with the blood and due to continuing incentives of a blind politics; finally, after many years they will receive what is due."

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Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Haxhinasto inspected today works in km 14 + 200, approximately 3 km before entering the tunnel at the area of Kerrabe, in the Tirana-Elbasan freeway. During the inspection of a segment of 13 kilometers, the Prime Minister got acquainted with the problems encountered on the low stability of the terrain, soil slippage and other geophysical problems. These issues have made difficult to respect deadlines for completion of works.

"The contractor is monitoring stability and soon he will give us a technical solution. "We found a very big mess. We have solved many things, which have now been arranged, but they will need a little extra time to be completed" – one of the managers of the institution following the works said.

While noting that unfortunately the government was forced to go back to projects because of their deficiencies, the Prime Minister stressed that it is very important to respect standards and that deadlines are not election ones.

"Every project with problems, every road with problems, we will start anywhere from scratch to set standards. It is a dramatic situation that we have inherited but that you must overcome much quicker, and I believe you will. From the contact I had with the company, they were optimistic that things are becoming regular from a technical standpoint. At first, it seemed as if they were justifying by saying that the project is problematic, but in fact, the project is super problematic. However, let’s finish in the best time possible. We do not build roads for campaigns, so we have no connection with electoral deadlines. The important thing is to build a good road once and for al"- the Prime Minister said.

Minister Haxhinasto asked the construction company to engage more public resources to this work.