| Albania and
Kosovo to Engage in Free Trade Talks
In
March, Albania’s
Foreign Minister, Ilir Meta, stated that talks regarding a free
trade agreement with Kosovo will begin in the near future. These
talks are in accordance with a previous agreement reached with
UNMIK chief Michael Steiner.
Lockheed Martin Wins Major Albanian Air Traffic Control Contract
In January, the Albanian Directorate General of Civil Aviation
awarded a $34 million contract to Lockheed Martin to modernize
the Albanian Air Traffic Control System. The award to the Bethesda,
MD based company is the largest contract issued to an American
firm by Albania. The contract will modernize Albanian airspace
management and transfer skills and technology to Albania. The
upgrades are needed to handle existing flight demand and future
anticipated growth in air traffic. The commercially financed
project will have four phases, the first of which will be the
establishment of an initial radar control capability to be completed
for the 2004 Olympic Games in Greece. It will also include new
radar, navigation and communications equipment that would link
the air traffic system to other airports in the region, construction
of a new airport tower and air traffic control center, and the
training of Albanian controllers and technicians.
Macedonia
Joining World Trade Organization
Macedonia has become the 146th member of the World Trade Organization.
WTO sets rules for international trade and membership in it is
crucial to Macedonia in its efforts to develop international
exports of goods and services. Macedonia has completed required
negotiation
of bilateral treaties with most of its major trading partners,
and changed laws and regulations to comply with WTO rules in
order to qualify. Macedonia expects to gain international markets
for
many of its chief industries, which include mining and textiles,
as well as agricultural products including wheat, rice, cotton
and tobacco. Major trading partners include Germany, Serbia-Montenegro
and the United States. Macedonia is currently working on a project
to develop its international competitiveness in key industry
clusters with the assistance of USAID.
World Bank
Supports Water Sector in Albania
The World Bank recently approved a $15 million credit for Municipal
Water Development in Albania. The project will support institutional
and financial reforms in water supply and sanitation to improve
water quality and quantity in four municipalities—Durres,
Fier, Lezhe and Saranda. The project will have three components:
a management contract component to finance the costs related to
a five-year contract to improve water supply and sanitation; an
investment fund to finance public works, goods, and services aimed
at improving the operation of water supply and sanitation services;
and a technical assistance component to support project implementation
and sector reform. Total cost of the project is $21.93 million
including the WB credit, matched by the Albanian government.
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