Slovenian and Albanian Presidents address businesspeople from both countries

Brdo pri Kranju, 14.10.2009  |  press release

The President of Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, and the President of the Republic of Albania, Prof. Dr Bamir Topi, attended the Slovenian-Albanian business conference, in which around 100 entrepreneurs from the two countries took part.

Addressing the participants, President Türk highlighted the values of trust and mutual acquaintance, which characterise co-operation between Slovenia and Albania, and provide a solid basis for all relations, including economic co-operation. He emphasised that Albania is one of the most rapidly growing economies in Europe, recording positive economic growth despite the world recession. Accordingly, Dr Türk stressed the importance of extended economic co-operation between Slovenia and Albania, in which both countries exploit the numerous opportunities in the area of infrastructure, energy, services and trade.

People who know each other well have fewer problems in doing business and co-operating, said President Türk. He also advocated increased tourist exchange, enabling as many Slovenians as possible to learn about Albania and its lively and rapid development, as well as the opportunities for working together, and noted that the opening of the Slovenian Embassy in Tirana in the near future will certainly strongly contribute to these strengthened relations. Dr Türk also supported the establishment of the Slovenian-Albanian business club, which will strengthen contacts and build friendships.

President Topi said that the development of co-operation between the two countries is characterised by its dynamic nature, which is true of both complex, institutional co-operation and that at the personal level. He highlighted the constructive role played by Slovenia throughout the region, describing Slovenia as a reference point for Albanian entrepreneurs. Prof. Dr Topi stressed that after a long period of isolation, Albania has turned into an open economy offering a number of opportunities. He supported President Türk's views and highlighted tourism as a particularly promising economic activity, since Albania, due to its location, has a long summer tourist season.

At the conference, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Edvard Svetlik, and the Director of the Tirana Chamber of Commerce, Eugenia Gjuraj, signed an agreement on mutual co-operation between the two chambers intended to provide information and institutional support to their respective corporate sectors. The Agreement on Business and Technical Co-operation signed by the President of the Managing Board and Executive Director of the Hidria corporation, Iztok Seljak, MSc, and the Rector of the Polytechnic University of Tirana, Dr Jorgaq Kaçani, marks the realisation of a development partnership between Slovene companies and the Albanian university.