Follow business albania oct2016 © Copyright FOLLOW BUSINESS ALBANIA 2016. All rights reserved.

FOLLOWBUSINESSALBANIA
Mars 25rd 2016
SPEC IAL REPOR T
SOLEAT OPTION
#BUSINESS
#MARKETINGDIGITAL
#BUSINESSOWNER
STATISTICAL DATA, SURVEY, ANALYSIS,
BUSINESS INTERVIEWS, DIPLOMACY, TRAVEL, ART…
© Copyright FOLLOW BUSINESS ALBANIA 2016. All rights reserved.
FOLLOWBUSINESS
IFC’S PROGRAM
FOR ALBANIA
TO SUPPORT
COUNTRY’S
ASPIRATION
TO EQUITABLE
GROWTH AND EU
ALBANIA
REMAINS
MY BEATING
HEART AND MY
PRIDE
CROATIAN
AMBASSADOR:
MY PRIORITY?
TO ENHANCE
BETTER TRAFFIC
CONNECTIONS
THE
SENSATIONAL
PROJECT
ON ALBANIA’S
BRANDING HAS
‘PAUSED’
CONSUMPTION
INVESTMENTS
EXPORTS,
UNEMPLOYMENT
IN ALBANIA
LARSEN:
CORRUPTION IS
PERCEIVED AS A
MAJOR PROBLEM
IN ALBANIA.
STATKRAFT HAS
GOOD SYSTEMS TO
MITIGATE THIS RISK
ALBANIA
OCTOBER
2016

CONTENTS
CONTENTS
3October 2016
NOTICE The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in
this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not
necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on
information contained in this publication, which is provided for general use and may not be
appropriate for the readers’ particular circumstances.
The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the
contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without
the permission of the publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for
the purpose of fair review.
All photos used in the magazine are by Shutterstock unless otherwise credited.
FOLLOW BUSINESS ALBANIA
FBA PUBLISHING ©
KUMI PRINT
Editor: Rudina HOXHA
Design: Leart Zajmi
WEB: www.FollowBusinessAlbania.com
EMAIL: info@followbusinessalbania.com
IFC’S PROGRAM FOR ALBANIA TO
SUPPORT COUNTRY’S ASPIRATION
TO EQUITABLE GROWTH AND EU
4
LARSEN: CORRUPTION IS
PERCEIVED AS A MAJOR PROBLEM
IN ALBANIA. STATKRAFT HAS GOOD
SYSTEMS, TOOLS AND PROCEDURES
TO MITIGATE THIS RISK.
8
THE CONSUMPTION EXPECTATIONS SURVEY
EDUARD ZALOSHNJA12
CONSUMPTION, INVESTMENTS
IN ALBANIA EXPORTS, AND UNEMPLOYMENT
EDUARD ZALOSHNJA
44
THE SENSATIONAL PROJECT
ON ALBANIA’S BRANDING HAS ‘PAUSED’
SCOTT GOODSON
76
ALBANIANS ARE GREAT HOSTS!
KNUT FLECKENSTEIN80
ALBANIA REMAINS MY BEATING HEART AND MY PRIDE
HILDA MAHA88
UNFORGETTABLE FESTIVAL IN THE CITY OF ‘1001 WINDOWS’94
HUNGARY: THE LAND OF SPAS92
TOURIST EXPERT: “ALBANIA HAS
BEEN A GREAT SURPRISE IN ALL ASPECTS”
82
70% OF ALBANIAN CHILDREN EXPERIENCE
VIOLENCE, REPORT
68
PALAZZO ITALIA72
“TOPTANI SHOPPING CENTER” BEATS COMPETITORS,
EVERYTHING SO NEAR YOU!
60
KEPI PRIVÈ
THE START FOR A HIGH QUALITY REAL ESTATE IN ALBANIA
64
CROATIAN AMBASSADOR:
MY PRIORITY?
TO ENHANCE BETTER TRAFFIC CONNECTIONS
54
VODAFONE ALBANIA,
15 YEARS OF AMAZING JOURNEY!
DIETLOF Z MARE
20
MEETING THE ‘DIFFERENT’ LEADER
MICHAEL ULMER24
BUKË DHE VERË ARBËRESHE
MAL BERISHA30
TIME TO CHANGE THE YOUTH’S MINDSET THAT MONEY
AND POWER IS THE ONLY THINGS THAT MATTER
ZERBANOO GIFORD
36
HENRIK LJUNG:
"DUXIANA FEELS WELCOMED IN ALBANIA"
40
GLOS: “THE ART IN YOUR COUNTRY IS TO FIND
THE WAY TO EU, KAS WILL HELP YOU”
32
MARCO PINELLI: “CONVIVIUM”
EXPERIENCE IS A GREAT DEAL”
26

Laura Qorlaze has 21 years’
experience with international and
local accounting firms.
During her work in Albania and
abroad, Laura has been responsible
for overseeing a range of client
services including audit and other
attestation services, financial
advisory services, tax consulting and
accounting consulting across a wide
range of industries, from
telecommunications, energy and
public utilities to construction and
consumer goods.
Laura has an in-depth
understanding and experience of
the application of international and
national accounting standards as
well as business valuation
methodologies. In addition, she
spent nine years in the
telecommunications industry in
Albania.
During her years working in
accountancy, Laura was holder of
the Certified Public Accountants,
USA (CPA), a member of the
Albanian Institute of Authorized
Chartered Accountants, IEKA (ACA),
a member of the Society of Certified
Accountants and Auditors of Kosovo
(CAA), and a Bankruptcy
Administrator. In April 2016, Laura
was appointed IFC’s Country
Representative in Albania.
4 October 2016
FINANCE & ECONOMICS

5October 2016
FINANCE & ECONOMICS
Laura Qorlaze is the new head of International Financing
Corporation (IFC) in Albania. Taking this post last April,
she embodies 21 years' experience with international and
local accounting firms. In her first interview, she told
Follow Business Albania that the IFC has currently a total
investment portfolio in Albania of $820.7 million in 26
projects across a variety of sectors, including energy,
infrastructure, banking, manufacturing and trade.
She explains that the IFC’s program for Albania for fiscal
years 2015-19 is aimed at supporting Albania’s aspiration
to achieve equitable growth and integration into the
European Union. “The program will be pursued with a
focus on our twin goals of reducing poverty and boosting
shared prosperity, through priority sectors such as energy,
infrastructure, banking, agribusiness, tourism and
manufacturing,” Qorlaze said.
According to her, the major challenge of IFC is the crisis
which has had an ever bigger impact on foreign companies
in countries where foreign capital is supposed to flow to
the Albanian economy. “This reduces the appetite of
investors to invest, which to some extent limits the
opportunities for IFC to partner with private sector
investors.”
IFC’s Program for Albania to
Support Country’s Aspiration
to Equitable Growth and EU
How would you describe the new position you are holding
as Country Representative of IFC in Albania and what are
the major strengths you would bring to this job?
Thank you first of all for giving me the opportunity to talk about
IFC in general and its work in Albania, as well as my new
appointment as IFC’s Country Representative in Albania.
IFC was established in 1956 as part of the World Bank Group to
support private sector investment in emerging markets to
create jobs and raise standards of living. IFC’s financial
products enable companies to manage risk and broaden their
access to foreign and domestic capital markets.
Our financial products consist of fixed and variable rate loans
extended to the private sector, which finance both early-stage
companies and expansion projects. IFC also makes loans to
intermediary banks, leasing companies, and other financial
institutions for on-lending. The credit lines are often targeted at
small and medium enterprises or specific sectors.
In addition to lending, IFC engages in equity investments that
provide developmental support and the long-term growth
capital the private sector needs. IFC invests directly in compa-
nies’ equity and also through private-equity funds.
Companies need more than financial investment to thrive,
however. They need a regulatory environment that enables
entrepreneurship. They need advice on best business
practices. IFC’s work also includes advising governments and
non-government institutions on how to improve the enabling
environment for the private sector. We help companies
By Rudina HOXHA

6 October 2016
improve corporate governance,
strengthen risk management, and
become more sustainable—financially,
environmentally, and socially.
Since Albania joined IFC in 1991, IFC has
been a supporter of sustainable
economic development in the country
through its investment and advisory
services. We currently have a total invest-
ment portfolio in Albania of $820.7
million in 26 projects across a variety of
sectors, including energy, infrastructure,
banking, manufacturing and trade.
IFC’s program for Albania for fiscal years
2015-19 is aimed at supporting Albania’s
aspiration to achieve equitable growth
and integration into the European Union.
The program will be pursued with a focus
on our twin goals of reducing poverty and
boosting shared prosperity, through
priority sectors such as energy,
infrastructure, banking, agribusiness,
tourism and manufacturing.
I was appointed as Country Representa-
tive for IFC in Albania in April 2016, which
requires me to oversee and support the
implementation of IFC’s program in
Albania. I believe my educational
background in finance and my profes-
sional experience in the private sector as
a financial advisor in a wide range of
industries for the past 21 years will help
me provide the right guidance and exper-
tise to execute IFC’s ambitious program
in Albania.
FINANCE & ECONOMICS
What are the main challenges IFC is
facing in Albania?
The 2008 global crisis has posed difficul-
ties for many private companies, making
it hard for them to engage in current or
new projects. The crisis has had an ever
bigger impact on foreign companies in
countries where foreign capital is
supposed to flow to the Albanian
economy.
This reduces the appetite of investors to
invest, which to some extent limits the
opportunities for IFC to partner with
private sector investors.
There is a strong interest in public –
private partnership at the moment,
why is that?
As I mentioned previously, IFC provides
advice to create a strong, broad enabling
environment for private sector develop-
ment. Although IFC’s work with govern-
ments is primarily delivered via the World
Bank Group Global Practice (WB and IFC
joint advisory group), we provide advice
to governments on preparing and
structuring Public-Private Partnership
(PPP) mandates.
Introducing PPPs is one of the key focus
areas of the Albanian government. PPPs
are a practice that have been successful
in the region and beyond. In countries
with constraints on public resources,

FINANCE & ECONOMICS
7October 2016
growing economy with growth exceed-
ing 6 percent per annum on average, a
trend which continued until the global
financial crisis of 2008. Sectors such as
construction and services in trade,
transport and communication were
among the key drivers for such growth.
The banking sector followed the devel-
opment of the private sector, which was
led by consumption primarily fueled by
remittances from Albanians working
abroad as well as increasing public
spending.
In your view, what is needed to
further boost the economic develop-
ment of Albania? What are the week
points in this respect?
Despite recent improvements and better
prospects for the future, the Albanian
economy is still facing insufficient growth
rates to fully recover from the 2008
global financial crisis. The high level of
non-performing loans in the banking
sector, a direct result of deteriorating
productivity and trade, in turn contributes
to keeping growth rates low due to
restrictions placed on business to access
financing.
On the other side, a heavy regulatory
burden and inadequate framework for
private investment, fiscal indiscipline and
uneven implementation of the law
continue to negatively affect the
business climate, and therefore growth.
there is a need for governments to turn to the private sector as an alternative
additional source of funding that will ultimately help economies grow. Engaging the
private sector in delivering public services helps improve the quality and efficiency of
public services.
Nevertheless, to achieve a successful PPP transaction, it is important to implement an
adequate communications strategy, i.e., timely, transparent and constructive discus-
sions and presentations to relevant stakeholders as well as regular public information.
Please can you give your assessment about the evolution of the private sector
in Albania? How do you see its transformation?
The opening of the Albanian economy in the 1990s and its transformation from a
centralized to a liberalized economy created huge opportunities for Albanian entre-
preneurs to invest in many sectors, which radically changed the nature of the
economy. Thanks to the initiative of these entrepreneurs, supported by a number of
structural reforms undertaken by the government, Albania became Europe’s fastest--
Creating conditions for
accelerated private
sector growth is impor-
tant for Albania.
To increase investments and generate
economic growth, it is important that
state institutions play a greater role in (i)
orientating businesses to invest in high
growth sectors; (ii) creating sector-
focused promotion policies to attract new
investments; (iii) ensuring freedom of
access by improving business regula-
tions and reducing compliance costs for
the private sector; (iv) avoiding informality
and ensuring fiscal discipline and law
enforcement; (v) and encouraging banks
to resume lending to companies.
IFC Headquarters in Washington D.C.

8
About Statkraft
Statkraft is a leading company in
hydropower internationally and
Europe’s largest generator of
renewable energy.
The Group produces hydropower,
wind power, gas-ﬁred power and
district heating and is a global player
in energy market operations.
Statkraft has 4200 employees in
more than 20 countries.
October 2016Banja Dam Overview

ENERGY
How is Statkraft doing in Albania after some years now?
Can you make a balance sheet?
Statkraft has been in Albania since 2006. The concession
agreement for Devoll Hydropower Project was reached in
2009, as a JV with EVN from Austria. In 2013, Statkraft
decided to become the sole owner of the project, by
reaching an investment decision and proceeding with
construction.
Statkraft is very satisfied with the progress of the project.
We recently held an opening ceremony for the first HPP
completed in the Devoll Cascade, Banja HPP. On Septem-
ber 23rd Statkraft officially celebrated the opening of this
very first plant in Albania. The opening was celebrated
with Prime Minister Edi Rama and Statkraft CEO Christian
Rynning-Tønnesen.
Banja hydropower plant will generate around 255 GWh of
renewable electricity per year. The plant consists of two
main Francis units, as well as an eco-flow unit. The dam
above the power plant is 80 meters high and creates a 14
square kilometers reservoir, in the form of a new lake in
the Devoll valley.
Larsen: Corruption is
perceived as a major problem
in Albania. Statkraft has good
systems, tools and procedures
to mitigate this risk.
9October 2016

10 October 2016
ENERGY
Social Responsibility
Corporate responsibility is an integral part
of our business in Statkraft. At Banja we
were able to demonstrate our strengths in
social and environmental responsibility in
a good manner.
Based on international standards, Statkraft
is committed to ensure that all affected
parties are as well or better off after the
project than before. Hence, the project
has also contributed to new houses,
school, new agricultural activities, affores-
tation as well as solid waste - and sewage
treatment facilities.
We have constructed and improved more
than 100 km of new road infrastructure
including 14 bridges. In Gramsh alone we
reconstructed the Trashovice bridge and
built a new road all the way to Dushk,
through the villages of Zgjupe and Silare.
We have built 16 new replacement houses
and a brand new school at modern
standards.
More than 250 agreements were signed
and delivered input for Livelihood Support
Development with the aim to provide
effective livelihood restoration and income
support, that will increase the quality of life
for the project affected households.
We are currently implementing an affores-
tation program covering 255 hectares,
with another 500 ha in the planning phase.
How do you see the energy market in
Albania?
Our presence in Albania is made against
the backdrop of energy market liberaliza-
tion. This dates back to the Athens treaty
of 2005, when Albania made a ﬁrm
commitment to harmonize its energy
sector with that of liberalized Western
European markets.
The ongoing market liberalization in
Albania is extremely important for us and
the decision taken last year, on the New
Energy Law is a very promising step in that
direction. This is important to Statkraft as
it increases transparency providing height-
ened motivation for further investments in
renewable energy in Albania. Statkraft is
very happy to see the full commitment of

ENERGY
11October 2016
the Government to establish a power
exchange and day-ahead market in
Albania.
The passing of the Judiciary reform is also
very important for Albania as it will put
conditions in place for foreign investors to
gain trust in the Albanian institutions, and
the country to accelerate its economic
growth.
In my view this country has a lot of poten-
tial. Albania stands in an advantage to
other countries in the region, with its
favourable location and abundance of
natural resources although still in a need
to ﬁnd its niche in the regional market.
Any other HPP planed in the Devoll
Cascade?
In total, Devoll-project will have an
installed capacity of 256 MW, increasing
the power generating capacity of Albania
by 17 percent.
The construction of the Moglice hydro-
power plant, with an installed capacity of
183 MW, is ongoing, and planned for
commercial operation in 2018. This part of
the project also reached a major milestone
recently, as the river was diverted from the
dam site, making it possible to start dam
construction.
The total investment of the Devoll project
is estimated to approximately EUR 550m.
Has Albania met all the expectations
of Statkraft ?
Main concern for Stakraft is the develop-
ment on electricity prices overall Europe.
The prices have fallen by around 50
percent over recent years.
How is your relation with key
institutions in the country?
Statkraft is committed to transpar-
ency in all countries we conduct our
business. We have in place good
systems, procedures and tools to
protect our integrity.
Devoll Hydropower Project is
developed as a concession agree-
ment involving a partnership with
the Government of Albania, thereof
a positive outcome of a project like
Banja HPP, depends upon the
support and role of many
stakeholders.
We are very happy to have found in
this country great abet towards our
business and Albanian institutions
have shown great support towards
our project.
CEO of Statkraft,
Christian Rynning-Tønnesen on stage

12
MACRO/CLOSER LOOK
October 2016
Albania Business Barometer
September 2016
SURVEY
EXPECTATIONS
THE CONSUMPTION
For the first time in
Albania, we
calculate the
Consumer Demand
Index – measured
with methods used
by the worldly
renowned Institute
for Business Cycle
Analysis
Will consumers buy
more food, clothing
and durables in the
following months,
compared to the
same period of the
previous year?
The survey was designed, supervised
and analyzed by Dr. Eduard Zaloshnja,
Research Scientist at Pacific Institute
for Research and Evaluation,
Washington, DC.

Eduard Zaloshnja
MACRO/CLOSER LOOK
In this issue of FOLLOW BUSINESS ALBANIA, we bring for the
first time fresh insights into Albanian households’ buying
plans, based on a representative survey of 800 urban
households (household consumption represents around 82%
of GDP in Albania).
The survey was conducted by phone in the first days of
September, using a randomly selected sample of households,
representing all urban Albania (in rural areas near subsis-
tence farming is predominant – family farms consume mostly
what they produce). We will continue with future waves of
this survey every September, interviewing the same panel of
respondents.
13October 2016
Based on the interviewees’ responses, we have constructed
several consumption indices, which serve as a basis for
computing the weighted Consumer Demand Index, following
the methodology used by the worldly renowned Institute for
Business Cycle Analysis
(http://www.consumerdemand.com/About.aspx).
The indices are calculated as a ratio of the weighted number of
non-negative responses over the number of negative
responses. Once future waves of our survey are conducted, we
will be able to forecast future consumption based on the annual
changes in our indices.
The Consumer Demand Index differs from other indicators by
its focus on actual behavior instead of “impressions” or levels of
confidence. It is based on direct information from households
about their own plans, not on their expectations for any number
of generalized macro-economic conditions.
In fact, the Bank of Albania calculates quarterly another
consumer index – the Consumer Confidence Index – as a
weighted difference between the percentages of positive and
negative responses to 4 blocks of macroeconomic questions
asked in its periodic survey. This index is supposed to predict
consumption in the subsequent months. If the index registers
improvement in a quarter (compared to the same quarter of the
previous year), a real consumption increase (on an annual
basis) is expected. However, an analysis of the Bank of
Albania’s Consumer Confidence Index and consumption for the
2010-16 period reveals that there is no positive correlation
between the two. In fact, there is a slight negative correlation
(Correlation Coefficient = -0.18).
Graph 1 shows real annual changes in household consumption
and the preceding the real annual changes of the Bank of
Albania’s Consumer Confidence Index. As the graph clearly
demonstrates, annual improvements in consumer confidence
are rarely followed by increases in household consumption.
2010
Q1
2010
Q3
2011
Q1
2011
Q3
2012
Q1
2012
Q3
2013
Q1
2013
Q3
2014
Q1
2014
Q3
2015
Q1
2015
Q3
2016
Q1
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
Graph 1. A comparison of the annual real changes in household consumption and the preceding annual changes
in Consumer Confidence Index, 2010-16 (in percentage points)

14 October 2016
MACRO/CLOSER LOOK
The Consumer Demand Index
The weighted Consumer Demand Index is 1.02 in September
2016. It indicates that consumption in the last quarter of 2016
will be higher or the same as in the last quarter of 2015. The
weights we used to calculate this index are as follows: 74%
food and clothing; 7% household durables; 5% driving/riding
durables; 14% home improvement.
The weights are based on the basket of goods used by INSTAT
to calculate the Consumer Price Index.
Graph 2. Will your family spend
more on food and clothing in the
last three months of this year,
compared to the last three months
of the previous year?
29%
13%
8%
51%
MORE
LESS
PERHAPS
MORE
SAME
The Food and Clothing Index is 1.03 in September 2016. It
indicates that sales of food and clothing in the last quarter of
2016 will be higher or the same as in the last quarter of 2015.
The weights we used for non-negative responses were as
follows: More = 1; Perhaps more = 0.5; Same = 0.25.
Negative responses were given the weight of 1.
(See detailed results of the Consumption Expectations Survey ).
Graph 3. Did your family buy any
furniture, TV set, refrigerator,
washing machine, or any other
home appliances in the last three
months of the previous year?
16%
84%
YES
NO

MACRO/CLOSER LOOK
15October 2016
The Household Durables Index is 0.77 in September 2016. It
indicates that sales of furniture, TV sets, refrigerators, washing
machines and other home appliances in the last quarter of 2016
will be lower than in the last quarter of 2015.
The weights we used for non-negative responses were as
follows: Yes = 1; Perhaps = 0.5. Negative responses were given
the weight of 1.
86%
10%
YES
NO
4% PERHAPS
Graph 4. Is your family planning to
buy any furniture, TV set,
refrigerator, washing machine, or
any other home appliances in the
last three months of this year?
Graph 5. Did your family buy an
automobile, a motorbike, or a
bicycle in the last three months of
the previous year?
96%
4%
YES
NO
The Driving/Riding Durables Index is 0.63 in September
2016. It indicates that sales of automobiles, motorbikes and
bicycles in the last quarter of 2016 will be lower than in the last
quarter of 2015. The weights we used for non-negative
responses were as follows: Yes = 1; Perhaps = 0.5. Negative
responses were given the weight of 1.

16 October 2016
MACRO/CLOSER LOOK
The Home Improvement Index is 1.25 in September 2016.
It indicates that in the last quarter of 2016 more households
would/could improve their dwellings, compared to the last
quarter of 2015. The weights we used for non-negative
responses were as follows: Yes = 1; Perhaps = 0.5.
Negative responses were given the weight of 1.
buy an automobile, a motorbike,
or a bicycle in the last three
months of this year?
97%
NO
YES 2% 2% PERHAPS
Graph 7. Did your family made
any improvements to your
dwelling in the last three months
of the previous year?
91%
NO
9%
YES
Conclusions
Since the Consumer Demand Index was not measured last year
in Albania, we cannot forecast consumption based solely on the
level of this year’s index.

MACRO/CLOSER LOOK
17October 2016
Next year we can compare the two levels of the index, as well
as the real consumption growth in the last quarter of 2016, in
order to predict the growth for the last quarter of 2017. As we
measure the index in the years ahead, we can forecast the
household consumption growth in Albania more accurately.
However, the responses in the September Consumption
Expectations Survey indicate that consumption in the last
quarter of 2016 will be higher or the same as in the last quarter
of 2015, but no strong growth can be expected.
87%
NO
10%
YES
2% PERHAPS
make any improvements to your
dwelling in the last three months
of this year?

Vodafone Albania, 15 years of amazing
journey!
August 3rd
, marked the 15th anniversary
of the first phone call on Vodafone
Albania’s network. Vodafone, one of the
worlds’s leading Telecommunication
Company joined Albania to its global
network by launching 15 years ago its
GSM services in the country. Evaluated as
the fastest global GSM network,
Vodafone has entered the electronic
communication history: as a pioneer of
introducing the latest technological
developments in the Albanian market
such as 3G, 4G/4G+, HD voice etc, as the
first mobile company with a foundation
dedicated to social issues, as the first
company to introduce the mobile money
transfers and payments service,
Vodafone M-Pesa. And this is not all! The
future gets us closer to another
challenge. Also, Vodafone aims to
pioneer in introducing 5G services in
Albania, because Vodafone customers
Many changes have taken place
over the past 15 years – the world,
the society, the people and the
workplace have been transformed
noticeably. The booming of mobile,
cloud and collaboration technolo-
gies has truly altered the way we
work, bridging geographical
barriers and facilitating business
practices.
Irrespective of all these changes,
there has been one constant
partner that has enabled us to
always be connected since 2001,
and that is the first name that
comes up to your mind when you
think of communication. I am
talking about the most admired
brand, Vodafone Albania
By Rudina HOXHA
20 October 2016
INNOVATION

INNOVATION
21
have always been the first and will
continue to be the first to experience
revolution
Today more than 2 million customers
have trusted their communication needs
to Vodafone Albania and benefit from the
latest and most advanced communication
services in the market. 15 years of journey
have turned Vodafone in the most
reliable communication partner for
Albanians. Behind the scenes of this 15th
anniversary stand hard work rewarded
with great achievement through years,
continues investments that reach more
than 500 million Euros, social contribu-
stands the ability to be close to custom-
ers’ needs with best services, best
customer experience and best network
with the widest coverage in every corner
of the country
In 15 years journey, Vodafone has always
been a step ahead in bringing benefits of
the mobile and digital revolution to the
country and the driving force behind the
development of the mobile industry in
Albania. In 2011, Vodafone was the first to
launch 3G services, introducing for the
first time a high speed mobile Internet
access at affordable prices. 4 years later,
Vodafone was again first to launch a state
of the art 4G/4G+ network, hence revolu-
tionising the customers’ navigation
experience and introducing another
advanced level of speed and quality. In
2015, Vodafone introduces another
innovative service for the Albanian
market, M-PESA – a unique service
which helps customers and Albanians to
perform financial transactions through
the mobile phone from everywhere and
anytime. They can pay bills, pay for
goods, top up their phone account,
receive money from their relatives abroad
just through the tips of their fingers and
without the need of a bank account
Over the years, Vodafone has launched
various services and applications almost
for every category of the society covering
different crucial areas while the Albanians
have consequently seen a number of
upgrades and enhancements made to
their products and services “portfolio”.
Innovations, new services & products
October 2016
tion through Vodafone Albania Founda-
tion and CSR which has touched and
changed the lives of different communi-
ties in need, and what’s most important, it
Dietlof Z Mare, Chief Executive
Officer at Vodafone Albania

INNOVATION
22 October 2016
have often achieved celebrity status, brought people closer,
made families happier and helped the sick or the disabled
ones.
Valuable remains the Vodafone e-books app where Albanians
can choose and read books either in Albanian or English from
a wide list of books available in the platform, now available
even in audio version for visually impaired people and in sign
language for hearing impaired ones. On the other hand, it
developed Tirana Ime app, via which the citizens of Tirana can
easily ﬁnd on their smartphone real-time useful information
about road traffic, urban transport, tourism, etc.
“I am happy to see the outcome of our 15 years of commit-
ment, investments and hard work of talented people of
Vodafone team, which led to great results in terms of brand
recognition, market share and industry development. Our
focus has always been to provide our customers with the
highest quality services, the best value for their communica-
tions and we continue to have customers and their needs in
the heart of everything we do. The future upon us is shining
out digital! Our next challenge is the roll out of 5G in Albania,
and our customers will be again the ﬁrst to experience a
revolution that will totally change the way they work and live
forever.” - said CEO of Vodafone Albania, Dietlof Mare
Vodafone Albania is a fully owned subsidiary of Vodafone
Group, one of the world’s largest telecommunications compa-
nies. Albania is one of the markets that have achieved leader-
ship position in a number of business KPIs such as market
share, brand admiration, customer satisfaction and network
quality - a true leader in the Group.
15th
Anniversary of Vodafone Albania – key
milestones
2001 - Vodafone launched in Albania.
2002 - 1st 100 000 customers in 4 months
2003 - Leaders in Post-Pay services
2004 - Leaders in revenue share
2005 - 1st youth pre-pay tariff plan
2006 - The 1st to launch Mobile Broadband services
2007 - Vodafone Albania Foundation; the only one in the
business sector
2008 - Leader in market share and revenue
2009 - The 1st to introduce Blackberry Services.
2010 - The 1st to launch 3G services in Albania
2011 - The most admired Brand - No.1 Community in the
Vodafone Club
2012 - The 1st to launch ‘Telemedicine’ Project.
2013 - Introduction of Vodafone RED tariff plans
2015 - The 1st to launch 4G services
2015 - Launch of the innovative mobile payment solution
Vodafone M-Pesa
The future ahead reserves big
surprises for Vodafone customers
as the company will keep
pioneering in bringing the most
innovative and life changing
services to them with the main
focus in empowering them in a
rapid developing area

24 October 2016
TABLE FOR TWO
When all expect him to be a seasoned
economist, he is very much into hotels,
mountains, music, travels and above all
into people.Travelling for 15 years across
the Southeast Europe, he is an architect
by profession. Having a knack for hotels,
he has designed and owns 8 ones (7 in
the main cities of Germany and one in
London.)
“Look I had really a lot of luck in my life. In
my heart, I am an architect and I do it in
the TBP, of course, not as much as
before. So, I was not really a manager. I
was not taught to be a manager. I was
taught to be a carpenter, an architect, an
interior designer. Of course, I did an MBA.
But I am not a typical economist or
whatever. I look things a bit different,”
Ulmer, a father of two, opens up his
conversation with me in one of the TBP
offices with a nice big view facing the
horizon.
The ﬁrst meeting with Ulmer, who is a
drummer as well, took place during the
party organized by the Tirana Business
Park on the occasion of its 1st anniver-
sary. In a white t-shirt and a pair of jeans,
Ulmer seemed to give a bit of his time
and attention to everyone. With a
constant smile on his face, he never failed
to show that he does not consider himself
a God especially among his employees.
On the contrary, the latter are what count
most for him. A TBP family photo in one
of the periodic publication of this
company showed Ulmer at the very end
of the line of the employees unlike other
managers who would stay in the center of
the photo or all over the photo but not
Ulmer. Low-key proﬁle with an authorita-
tive look when needed, he speaks only
when he thinks that his words would be
more precious than the silence. All these
are indeed a sign of a modern, different
manager who is currently more in
demand by the big companies all over
the world. At the same time, he has
injected an organizational evolution in his
company’s culture. But what are some of
his interests and passions who have
molded such a manager?
“Give me a Mountain instead of a
Hotel Room”
“I don’t like hotels (Laughing). Of course I
stay a lot in hotels. That’s the reason that
privately I don’t like hotels. Instead I like
hiking or climbing the mountains. But if I
As we all keep wondering what makes a manager successful, Michael Ulmer, the
General Manager of Tirana Business Park, gives some good hints. As leading the
most noteworthy German investments in Albania in the retail market,the 24 carat
German man chronicles a colorful success story.
Ulmer is an entrepreneur, a father and a lightning rod. His key to success seems to
be sheltered in his character which fights the new challenges of today’s business
world with new perspectives. We all have these perspectives around but not always
we embrace them to the maximum like he does.
Meeting the ‘Different’ Leader

TABLE FOR TWO
25
stayed on my mind. With headphones
and music on his ears, he can go really
far. I love to travel alone and my family,
my kids. ”
A Lifetime Trip
“My first trip to Nepal, Himalaya. It was
2007. I climbed 5000meters high. From
that summit, you could see many other
mountains around. It was a phenomenal
moment. We started the climbing at 4a.m.
in the morning and you see the sunrise
and the sunset from there. All these
make this trip a great experience. After
all, it is about expectations. Mine are not
so high when I travel. We, as human
beings, make the trips nice or bad. We
are the ones who destroy the nature.”
Take-Risking goes with intuition
hand in hand
In his view, coming to Tirana has not
been an easy decision but take-risking is
one of his major quality. Moreover, he felt
it in his mind but even in his stomach.
“I was looking at this plot more than two
years before we decided to buy it.
Because Albania was back then weaker
than now. And the big question was what
can happen later? We discussed with EU
about our plans as nothing was known for
sure. Now it is much more stable. One
secret of our company is that we take
risks upfront. If you are one of the first
movers, you have better possibilities,”
Ulmer says.
He is happier than before now for his
decision seeing that Albania is progress-
ing in its way to Europe.“I really believe
that Albania is making a very good step
towards Europe. Albania has a big oppor-
tunity. For us, it was a decision in the mind
but even in the stomach. This is a place
which will be developed and a place
which will be connected with Europe. All
the roads lead to the Balkans market. The
issue is when and who. We were the first
to take a bigger risk,” he ends.
work and I stay in hotels, I go for a hotel
chain, very much known in Germany
now, Motel One. I like it very much
because it has an affordable price, good
design, good service, no excessive stuff
and you know what you get. It is like a
October 2016
second home for me. But what I like
much more is our hotel. We own 8 hotels.
They are called MK (named after a small
village close to our HQ). They are built in
the main cities of Germany, in London
and elsewhere. I don’t need luxury
hotels, just a clean room, good services
and no disturbing stuff. I try to bring
inside my experience with the hotels I
stay during my trips all over the world. At
the end of the day, it is easy and simple:
we need a good atmosphere inside the
room. I don’t need to be treated like a
king in a hotel; instead I like easy and
simple things. And if we have guests at
the company, we invite them at the
hotels.”
Ulmer reminds me of
an old adage:
“Business people
should stay in the
woods.”
“I am a mountain guy. I like the countries
in the northern part of Europe because I
am fine with the cold. Countries like
Canada, Norway, Sweden and others are
my favorite. Climbing, hiking or
backpacking are what I like. A wood
cabin is more than welcome for me.”
Kovachevitsa
My favorite destination? - “Places or
countries not so much known. I try to
explore strange places. I was working in
Bulgaria for some time. Going from
Bulgaria to Greece I found a small village,
all of stone, its name was Kovacevica.
Bulgarians are aware of it but the others
do not know much about it. This village View from Kovachevitsa village
The Himalayas

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet
26 October 2016
HOTEL
The Italian Executive Chef, Marco Pinelli, with a long
international experience in the most prestigious
hotel chains, is the Chef of The PLAZA Hotel which has
a great cooperation with Italian food suppliers to
meet all the requirements and the tastes of all kinds
of clients. Of course, combined with the best food
suppliers that exist in Albania.
In the following interview with “Follow Business
Albania”, Pinelli explains why working for
“Convivium” is a great deal and above all, why he said
‘yes’ to the invitation to work in the newest 5-star
hotel in the center of Tirana.
Marco Pinelli: “Convivium”
Experience is a great deal”
Where are you originally from and when did you get into
the restaurant business?
I am Italian, originally from Naples, a city well known for the high
quality of raw materials such as tomato San Marzano, Pasta
from Gragnano and many other products. I was engaged in this
kind of business in a young age as my family was running a
Pizzeria and a Trattoria. In the very beginning I was not excited
toward this cooking idea but through time I explored food in
different ways and here it was actually the moment when I
realized that what I wanted was to cook, to create new special
dishes. As I was observing the satisfaction that people would
get from my dishes, the desire for me to create in “kitchen” kept
growing. All I ever wanted is what I am actually doing, cooking.
When did you move to Albania?
I moved in Albania in 2015 ready to face this new challenge that
was intriguing me in this brand new hotel, at the Plaza Tirana.
Convivium, the restaurant I am engaged lately which is placed
in Plaza Tirana Hotel, gave me the opportunity to create and
organize delicious dishes with a variety of spices and an
enquired quality in taste.

27October 2016
How do you like the area your
restaurant is in?
It is located in the center of Tirana, which
I believe it is a favorable place for its
success. It is very carefully located close
to institution, houses and different
businesses so it can be easily noticed or
spotted.
What has been the biggest surprise
since you moved to Albania?
I was truly surprised from the fact that
these people were willing to contribute,
learn and create. They are full of life and
enthusiasm something very useful and
extremely crucial for this kind of job.
Their hospitality made me want to work
and collaborate with them in the best
appropriate way so we can succeed.
They made me part of their own culture
and they accepted mine as theirs, some-
thing truly admirable.
How would you characterize your
experience with Convivium Restau-
rant?
My experience with Convivium is yet to
be seen as it is the very new restaurant
opened by the Plaza hotel, but until this
point I have to accept that it is a great
deal. Its design is one of the most unique
designs I have ever noticed especially to
its entrance and its special organization.
But the most important thing that makes
it successful and unique is the accommo-
dation skills, the energy of the people
working for it and of course the enthusi-
asm we have for as we call it “food
experience”. Our dishes are unique and
not common.
We offer the idea, the taste and the
enquired experience of enjoying a place
designed for your most relaxed and
beautiful moments. We have worked a lot
upon menus and the purpose is for every
taste to be unique and unforgettable. We
have interesting and unique dishes
like,Goose Foie Gras Terrine, and Guinea
Fowl.
There are a lot of restaurants in
Tirana. Why should a prospective
diner choose yours?
Perhaps I would ﬁnd this answer to my
previous explanation of the restaurant
but I fear that this will not be enough so I
will maintain the fact that we choose to
offer quality, variety that will make people
wonder “what is else”.
A lavish breakfast buffet at The PLAZA Tirana

28 October 2016
HOTEL
What dish is your signature dish and why that particular dish?
This is actually a question that I often deal with, but my answer
comes always with another question. If you have three kids, which
one would you choose to be your favorite?
This is a question that it is almost impossible to be answered because
it is impossible for a parent to make such a decision.
This is how I feel with my dishes, it is almost impossible to choose one
as my favorite as they are all products of my creativity and they have
all same signature.
We choose to make people wonder or
realize that they have never probably
taste dishes like this before.
Believe you me, when a client asks for
you to join his table and gives you his
endless appreciation, then yes, then you
can actually feel it.

HOTEL
29October 2016
Give me 5 words to
describe Convivium!
Stylish, Attractive,
Qualiﬁed, Unique,
Relaxed Atmosphere

ART OF TRAVEL
What happens when true patriotism runs in one's
diplomat's blood veins? He or she gives his/her soul to the
work. This is the case of the ambassador of career, Mr. Mal
Berisha. This past summer, he toured in some of the
Arbëreshë -inhabited regions of Italy, mostly Molise and
Calabria, guided marvelously by the long-standing
Arbëreshë scholar, Michelangelo La Luna.
The Arbëreshë people, as dignified successor of the
Skanderbeg's spirit, and maintainer of the Albanian
traditions in centuries, seems to have seized the soul and
the attention of the diplomat and scholar, Mr. Mal Berisha.
In fact, his interest in the Arbëreshë people is early but
more conspicuous on the eve of the 104th anniversary of
Albania's Independence Day, to be celebrated by the end of
November.
“It is a sentiment of curiosity, respect and longing. It is love
and why not, even an obligation towards them as people
of the same blood who passed on the traditions through
centuries though living in a foreign land,” says Mr. Berisha
among others in a long article on this unforgettable trip
(malberisha.com/?p=1800).
Emotions ran high when Mr. Berisha, accompanied by his
Spouse as well as by Xhoana Papakostandini, once a
diplomat at the Albanian Embassy in London, known for
her patriotism, her husband, Sergio and their daughter,
Anja, found themselves in the village of Santa Sofia
d’Epiro where the Albanian flag was waving together with
the Italian and European ones in front of the local church.
Or when they noticed that the small restaurant by the
church was called “Bukë dhe Verë” (Bread & Wine); or
when they visited the Arbëreshë Ethnic Museum in Civita.
But a visit in the village of Maki (Calabria), the birthplace
of Jeronim De Rada, the foremost figure of the Albanian
National Awakening in 19th century, of Arbëreshë
descent was the ultimate emotion.
With his camera, the diplomat brings
some of the most interesting and
vivid evidences that the
Arbëreshë people are those
who so significantly served to
the national cause.
“Bukë dhe Verë Arbëreshe”
30 October 2016
Mal Berisha (L) and
Michelangelo La Luna, July 29, 2016

32 October 2016
STATE & SOCIETY
“Of course, Albania has great laws.
Compared with the international
laws, they are not bad. By these laws,
Albanians’ freedom to act, to talk, to
think is guaranteed. But are they
really free given that many laws are
not put into practice?,” Head of
Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung (KAS)
Office in Albania, Walter Glos wonders
in an exclusive interview with Follow
Business Albania.
According to him, the duty of the
Albanian politics is to do the best
because the Albanians deserve it.
“That’s why we insist on the Albanian
politics to carry out the reforms in the
context of EU. I mean here even the
conduct of free and fair elections,” he
says.
Glos emphasizes that KAS will help
Albania on its development process.
“But we will not exert a great
pressure in order that the new
democracy takes its own time,” he
says.
In what way is KAS applying its
principles - freedom, justice and
solidarity - in Albania? What tangible
results have been achieved so far in
this respect?
Konrad Adenauer Foundation Albania
operates since 2009 and its main instru-
ments are the seminars, debates, consult-
ing, foreign expertise especially from
Germany, publications and workshops.
KAS deals with many topics including the
cooperation with the political parties as an
instrument to strengthen the democracy of
one’s country.
The cooperation with the political parties is
important because we see them as instru-
ments to consolidate one's country's
democracy. In this context, we focus on the
political formation. So, one year and a half
ago, we established the Albanian Center
for Good Governance (ACGG) which is an
independent institution, ﬁnanced by the
KAS. Alongside with ACGG, we try to
improve the political parties' structures and
contribute to the modernization of the
Albanian Democratic Party.
During his last April visit to Albania, the
View from one of the KAS events in Tirana
If you want a country to move ahead, the consciousness about its past should
be raised.
Glos: “The art in your country is to find
the way to EU, KAS will help you”

STATE & SOCIETY
33October 2016
German Parliament Speaker Norbert
Lammert appealed on us to support the
political parties in Albania and make them
cooperate with one another in order to
contribute to a healthy political pluralism.
This is of a paramount importance from the
country’s prospect to join the EU. The art in
your country is to ﬁnd the way to EU. To
attain this objective, the focus is primarily
on the intelligence of Albanian youth but
we should not forget on the other hand
that facing the past is an aspect which
impacts every step in life. The communist
past of Albania plays an important role in
this country. So, some years ago, we
decided to dedicate ourselves on this
issue. If you want a country to move ahead,
the consciousness about its past should be
raised. Given that, KAS has created
another institute - IDMC which deals with
the youngsters in different universities. We
are glad to see how dedicated these
youngsters are towards facing the past.
We are proud that KAS Albania has
managed to bring all the ex-persecuted
organizations together (being aware of
their disagreements among them) in its
office and help them to agree on building a
national memorial. Despite our wish, we
need to have the political supporting to
achieve our objectives. We do what we do
in the name of Albania’s European integra-
tion. As far as the Albanians are
concerned, we try to explain to them as
much as we can on the EU, its institutions,
the way they operate and what does it
mean to be part of this big family.
In your view, to what extent are the
Albanians free?
This is a very good question. It touched me
when I read it. We cannot stay without
mentioning the 100-year history of Albania
– the difficult years of communism and the
big efforts to achieve democracy. Of
course, Albania has great laws. Compared
with the international laws, they are not
bad. By these laws, Albanians’ freedom to
act, to talk, to think is guaranteed. But are
they really free given that many laws are
not put into practice?
Say, the free debates on corruption, the
need for a free judiciary or the decriminal-
ization which disturb the Albanians’
freedom. If by Constitution, the Albanians
are free, this fails to happen in reality
because they don’t have access to the
laws. This problem gets complicated when
coupled with many other grievances.
I feel so bad seeing this country ﬁghting in
this regard when it enjoys enormous
resources such metals, oil, water, green
energy, and its friendly and great people. I
have visited many world countries but I
never come across that form of hospitality I
have found in Albania. So the duty of the
Albanian politics is to do the best because
the Albanians deserve it. That’s why we
insist on the Albanian politics to carry out
the reforms in the context of EU. I mean
here even the conduct of free and fair
elections. Of course, the international
pressure is important but not too much in
order to let the Albanians be themselves.
In the end, I would like to emphasize that
20-25 years of new democracy are not
many. We, as Germans, but even the
experiences of other countries, have
proved that such a change takes a lot of
time. KAS will help Albania on its develop-
ment process. But we will not exert a great
pressure in order that the new democracy
takes its own time.
Head of KAS Albania, Walter Glos accompanying the President of Bundestag,
Norbert Lammer in one of his visits in Albania.

34 October 2016
STATE & SOCIETY
Do you see these 25 years as transition
or democracy?
Both. On one hand, the results of Albania
in all these years are evident. I can
highlight the political change. For the first
time, I was in Albania in 2009. Only what
has changed since that time should be
recognized. It can not taken for granted.
Therefore I can say that the Albanian
democracy is improving. On this road, this
country is not alone.
The United States and the EU are by its
side. We believe that the day will come
when the Albanian state institutions act like
in a functional democracy, where they act
independently from one another. This will
need some time because it is a matter of
mentality.
It seems the communist past of
Albania is now and then on the way to
achieving many objectives. What is
your feeling?
This is a priority of our work and I explained
above why so.
the competition “Ask your grandparents.”
The youngsters ask their grandparents
different questions on the past and they
hope to get the answers they expect to.
We wish the politics to do more in this
respect. Two years ago, we proposed the
law on the opening of files. We helped in
the drafting of this law. Luckily the law was
approved.
But the next step is missing. Mrs. Gentiana
Sula was proposed by the Parliament to
head the office in charge of opening the
140.000 files. The Parliament needs to
approve the five members of this Authority.
This step is not being taken. From our
view, this is not good at all because we
invested time and money in this endeavor.
So, we are pending from the Parliament.
This point is not on the agenda of the
Parliament for the second semester of
2016. Given the general elections due next
year, it seems this matter won’t be in the
limelight of the Parliament even next year.
This is so unfortunate.
So, one of the main problems we see when
we talk about the communist past is the
lack of political recognition or commitment
to this problem. May be the politics is a bit
afraid of this decision and its conse-
quences on the opening of the 140.000
files. But it cannot happen otherwise. It
may cause conflicts. But it is better to know
and solve these conflicts instead of letting
them sleeping.
But do you think this is the right time
as the society seems still under
development?
It is a difficult step for the people. But we
cannot say that the society is not riped
out. The people should get integrated
into the political processes. They should
be oriented towards the meaning of the
next political steps. They should know
what has happened in the past. I think the
Albanians should do that as soon as
possible. So, I am pro opening these files.
What are some of the KAS's major
projects which contribute to the
integration of Albania to EU?
This is a theme we support most. Every-
thing should be done to make possible
the start of EU negotiations for Albania.
We are sincere towards the people
during our events. We state that joining
Europe does not happen overnight.
When we talk about European integra-
tion, the Berlin Process comes to my
mind. A part of Berlin Process are even
the conferences of the Western Balkans.
And Albania’s contribution should be
recognized in this respect. If we think
about Durres Rinas road, the Berlin
Process gets highlighted automatically.
The road to EU is difficult and all the
candidate states should be supported.
The reform in judiciary is the
buzzword of Albania. What do you
think about it and what is KAS doing
to modernize the Albanian judiciary?
Without the international initiatives, there
would have not been an approval of the
law on the reform in judiciary on July 21.
The next step is the implementation. This
is the other point where the EU and the
US should focus to have this reform
successful. This reform takes time. If
some judges have to leave their posts,
they will follow all the right steps to take
on their rights.
On this point, the EU and the Americans
are investing a lot. It is important to lead
this country to reach compromises, so the
European standards can be maintained.
Given its past, it should make all its efforts
to keep these standards. In cooperation
with the School of Magistrates, we bring
professors from various German institutes
like the “Max Planck” Institute to lecture
on the topic.
We work heavily with
the youngsters to raise
their awareness.
We do that by creating situations which
evoke the past such as the organization of

35October 2016
Through our offices in
Tirana, Saranda and
Vlora we will be there
for you on every step
of the way.
Our team will be
happy to provide our
services to you.
info@albaniapropertygroup.com
www.albaniapropertygroup.com
We can help you get the
Albanian property or
investment of your dreams.
TOP RECRUITMENT
AGENCY IN ALBANIA
RECRUITNET
Rruga Brigada VIII, nr. 16
Kati 5, Apt. 29, 1019, Tiranë, Albania
e-mail: info@netrecruit.al
www.netrecruit.al

36 October 2016
PEOPLE & SOCIETY

37
What's your career journey in human rights?
My Journey in the field of human rights has been centered on
social justice and gender equality. Surely it is obvious if half the
world is undervalued and 85 people hold the same wealth as
3.5 billion people globally there is dreadful injustice. I have
dedicated my life to ensuring that every human being receives
the opportunities and love they are entitled to. It is shameful
we still have slavery rampant in the world. Everyone should
have access to enlightened education, housing, healthcare,
sustainable food and a clean and beautiful environment.
If man can walk on the moon and has the capacity to blow the
world to smithereens surely we can have a more equal, fair and
kinder world. We have to change the mind set away from
people thinking that money and power is the only things that
matter. What matters is unlocking the human potential and
goodness inherent in all people
Have you seen things change in your professional life
time?
The world has changed beyond belief in my life time. As an
immigrant and a woman I was stereotyped and expectations of
what I would do was not very bright. It was made clear to me
that I would never be elected to political office in which deter-
mined me to defy the pundits. I was elected making history in
1982. Since then I have committed myself to the empowerment
of women especially in the public arena. Today no political
party would be seen without adequate representation of
women. It sometimes saddens me when I speak to young
people whose lives are so different from ours that they have no
understanding or respect for the pioneering women that went
before them. Many of us sacrificed our ambitions to ensure the
collective good. Today women are able to excel in every field
because of those who had the vision and dedication to ensure
equality of opportunity became a reality.
Has technology played a part?
Technology is playing a vital part liberating people. Today they
can connect quickly with each other and have access to knowl-
edge and world news. Many of my generation are technology
illiterate, including myself. I find it easier to have face to face
contact. I have been called a cosmic networker,my connec-
tions with people are on a one to one basis or through my
writing, public appearances, speeches and work at the ASHA
Centre with young people who endlessly inspire me
www.ashacentre.org.
What effect does doing charitable work have on a human
being?
Taking part in charitable endeavors has been a defining part of
my life starting with working as a teenage volunteer for the
homeless in London. Later I became the London organizer for
the homeless charity Shelter. As theDirector of the oldest
human rights organisation in the world Anti-Slavery Interna-
tional, I campaigned for the rights for hundreds of millions of
enslaved peoplein the world especially children in bonded
labor who have been deprived of a childhood. They are forced
This is one of the many powerful messages that the Zerba-
noo Giford, a British human rights campaigner, philanthro-
pist, women’s champion and writer of Indian origin
conveys in this exclusive interview with Follow Business
Albania.
Gifford was brought from India to Britain by her parents
when she was three. She was educated at Roedean School,
at Watford College of Technology, at the London School of
Journalism and at the Open University. As an immigrant,
she has committed herself to the empowerment of women
especially in the public arena.
In addition, she remains an everlasting charity woman.
“When you are generous to another person you don’t have
to wait for the results you feel the joy you give instantly.
How wonderful!,” she says.
Time to change the youth’s
mindset that money
and power is the only things
that matter
October 2016
PEOPLE & SOCIETY

38 October 2016
PEOPLE & SOCIETY
with active volunteering. Young people leave inspired and
transformed and ready to work with others to change their
communities.
What's the key to success?
Letting your soul rock.
What's the importance of writing for you?
Writing is one of the ways I have found to change not only my
own life but others. I write about great heroes and heroines
who have left inspirational legacies that are often forgotten or
ignored and need to be remembered.
Men like Thomas Clarkson who dedicated his life to ending the
Trans-Atlantic slave trade, Dadabhai Naoroji who fought
tirelessly to become the ﬁrst non-white member of the British
parliament in 1892 and Noor Inayat Khan Britain’s last radio
operator who was brutally murdered in Dachau by the Nazis for
ﬁghting against fascism. Many years ago I used to also write a
political column that challenged those in power.
Politicians must start acting for the good of all
communities.Real service is notself-service. My writing is
always underpinned with the thought that everything is
possible and all that you can only take from life is what you
have given away.to work in mines, factories, farms and brothels for the insatiable
greed of some unscrupulous people. I always tell people that
we are all here in this world for a reason, to do good.
As it is stated in the Bible
‘As you sow, so will you reap’.
When you are generous to another
person you don’t have to wait for the
results you feel the joy you give
instantly.
How wonderful.
What do you think of Brexit?
I feel ashamed at what has happened after the Brexit vote in
Britain. I think the hatred and division that it has engendered is
shocking. If people are told by some unscrupulous politicians
that people from other countries are to be feared, then no one
should be surprised if foreigners are targeted with hate
campaigns. I have experienced it myself and those that work at
ASHA Centre from Eastern Europe have been abused in the
supermarkets and roads.
Where are the great leaders who have dynamic hearts and
understand that we all live in a interconnected world where
unity and our shared humanity is to be applauded. Out of love
not fear you create a bold new world.
How can the young be inspired?
The young are inspired by seeing and being involved in real
action. They are tired of talking about a better world, they want
to see it in action.My greatest achievement is founding the
ASHA Centre in Britain which is now recognised globally as
astunningly beautiful Centre that successfully creates opportu-
nities for young people from every part of the world and from
every community and faith.
At the ASHACentre they are exposed to a richly varied
programme of activities designed to meet the challenges of our
times, through combining community arts, sustainable living,
transformational leadership, intercultural/interfaith dialogue

LIFE & ART
35April 2016
BY 9, BY 12, BY DHL.
HOW TO TELL
IT’S 9AM
IN MILAN.

Please can you make a short
presentation of yourself?
My name is Henrik Ljung and I
represent the fourth generation of
the Ljung Family who has owned
and operated Duxiana since 1926.
I started my Duxiana career in 19…oh
I was born with it. Like many of
those who have worked in family
companies will tell you, at ﬁrst you
resist the temptation to join your
family business.
You want to try your own wings, to
explore the world and feel like you
earned it.
Henrik Ljung:
"Duxiana Feels
Welcomed in
Albania"
40 October 2016

VENTURE
41

42 October 2016
So, I did my army service in Sweden in
1994-1995 and then moved to Brussels in
1995 where I eventually graduated in
1999. A couple of weeks before graduat-
ing, I started thinking “you know what, I
deserve to work for Duxiana now”.
thinking to myself: I love it and I’m proud
of it. I felt like a James Bond who travels
a lot, is diplomatic, solves problems and
has many opportunities...
Soon after I headed to Sweden to help
Duxiana grow worldwide. And basically
that is what I have been doing since 1994,
making sure Duxiana is growing and
finding new markets. Surely the latter is
the most fun part of this business, no
matter if it is Korea, India or Albania.
My job is pretty easy because our
product speaks for itself. I don’t need to
say too much. Ninety percent of the
people who work with us and who decide
to promote Duxiana, buy the bed first,
love it and call us saying: “I need to
promote this bed. I need to leave Califor-
nia and go to Korea and sell this bed, or I
need to go back to Albania to bring this
At the time, i was looking to study
diplomacy in Stockholm when my father
contacted me and told me that he
needed some help in our New York
office. This was the chance I was looking
for. I moved to NY in 1999 and started
work in our corporate office in Upham.
For almost five years, my job consisted of
traveling to all our stores, about 40 at the
time, meet the people, see how they
were doing and, in a few words, help
them out. During those five years, I heard
all the questions, had all the answers and
had met all of our people. I remember
bed to the Albanian market”.
The people try the beds in the hotels,
they love them and ask us how they can
have them. We are a fairly small company
but we make a strong beep globally.
What are the major markets of the
company?
Scandinavia has always been the major
market throughout the years. The biggest
market outside Scandinavia is the US,
where in the beginning of the 80’s we
started to grow really quickly with the
Duxiana concept.
VENTURE
What are some of the hotels which
have chosen the DUX bed for their
rooms?
There are quite a few hotels in Scandina-
via, New York and others, about 150
worldwide. One of the most famous is the
Burj Al Arab in Dubai.
View from the grand inauguration
of Duxiana in Albania on April 28th, 2016.

VENTURE
43October 2016
Duxiana in Albania. That’s where I came
into the picture. I met Saimir the first time
last year and since then we have been
figuring out how to establish ourselves in
Albania.
Who is your ideal customer?
One who appreciates the good quality in
a product, buys it and becomes its
ambassador.
How can someone buy your
product?
The best way is to contact a
store or a representative of the
company.
In Albania, our beds are show-
cased in the lobby and in the
rooms of the Rogner Hotel
Tirana.
The contact point is Saimir. You just call
him to arrange a private meeting and try
the bed for yourself. It will be an amazing
experience.
His contact info:
Saimir Topollari
President of Duxiana
Albanian Operation
saimir.topollari@duxiana.al
www.duxiana.al
+355 67 20 70 333
+355 69 70 70 333How did you reach Albania?
It was a coincidence. Saimir Topollari had
stopped in our store in Manhattan and by
chance my father happened to be there.
We have had Albanian connections
before through a restaurant across the
58th St. ne New York. It was called
Bruno’s and it was driven by Albanians.
We also had Albanian connections in
Sweden. We were thinking about what
other connections we had. My father
mentioned De Niro who has Albanian
blood and he owns a hotel down in
Greenwich and may be that is something.
Anyway, my father and Saimir exchanged
the contact details and I think the next
summer, my parents went to Tirana
because they wanted to visit Albania and
ask Saimir if he would be interested to
working together. They met, explored the
country and talked about how to bring
Over a decade in the United States, Saimir
Topollari left the American dreamland to take the
lead of Duxiana Operations in Albania. With the
support and trust of the Ljung Family. “Albania is
developing and the Albanian culture is starting
to shift, to where investing in good health is
becoming a priority. Albanians have started to
appreciate quality products. They are investing
more and more towards their health and general
well being. Especially in a good bed, a key
contributor to a more healthy lifestyle. “We are
positive. To us, it’s worth leaving a country to
return home to Albania for the sake of trading a
good product for your people.”
How has Duxiana Albania positioned right now in
the domestic market?
Duxiana has been in the Albanian market
since the beginning of this year. The grand
inauguration on April 28th, 2016 was the
culmination of our efforts. We are very active
on social media and, so far, have mostly led
low budget marketing campaigns. We are
currently trying to stir the interest of the
Albanian elite class. Once the interest is there,
we hold private meetings during which time
clients can see and experience the bed up
close at Rogner Hotel Tirana. Being that the
DUX Bed is hand-made with specific requests
from our clients, orders usually take between
3-4 weeks to arrive.
What are your expectations about this unique
product? One with a, clearly, challenging target
market.
Like everywhere in the world where Duxiana
products are being sold today, we depend a
lot on word of mouth from loyal customers
who love their DUX Bed. And just like in many
of our markets, we believe that Duxiana
products can dominate the Albanian market
when it comes to personalized, high quality,
certified, hand-made products. Our goal is to
give Albanian consumers a chance to
purchase high quality products in their own
country without having to travel abroad to do
so. Duxiana is one of their options now. Ideally
this product needs a personalized approach,
that’s why we have distributed our brochures
in English and Albanian. There are many ways
to promote this kind of product; we aim in
finding the most effective ones.
Saimir Topollari

Household consumption = 82% of GDP;
Investments = 26.5% of GDP;
Exports = 36.5% of GDP
SPECIAL REPORT
CONSUMPTION, INVESTMENTS
IN ALBANIA
EXPORTS, AND UNEMPLOYMENT
44 October 2016

Eduard Zaloshnja
SPECIAL REPORT
45October 2016
The author works as Research Scientist at Paciﬁc Institute for
Research and Evaluation, Washington DC, USA
From the beginning of time, consumption has been the main
economic goal for every family, tribe and society. To achieve this
goal, countless rivers of sweat and blood are shed for centuries
throughout the world. Albania is no exception.
Consumption rose in Albania in the decades following WW2, but
returned to a bare minimum by 1991. The per capita household
consumption in 1991 was the equivalent of today’s 18 Euros per
month. Shops were almost empty, food was rationed and the
country’s grain reserves could last only 6 days.

46 October 2016
SPECIAL REPORT
From 1992 to 2008 Albanians went on a consumption binge,
fueled by the remittances of hundreds of thousands of workers
that migrated abroad after the fall of Communism (more than 1/3
of registered Albanian voters live currently abroad). The
expression “Albania exports workers and imports consumer
goods” became a cliché in economic circles.
The per capita household consumption experienced a 10 fold
increase during that period, but still remained the lowest in
Europe – only 180 Euros monthly per capita in 2008.
After the global financial crises hit Greece and Italy, the
countries where the bulk of Albanian emigrants live,
remittances from abroad started to dry up – data from Bank of
Albania show that per capita remittances fell from 27 Euros to
16 Euros per month during the 2007-14 period. On the other
hand, the construction sector started a major contraction due to
housing overcapacity – according to Albanian Census, 1/3 of
dwellings were unoccupied in 2011. And the major slowdown in
construction was followed by a slowdown in incomes for
families that were directly or indirectly relying on it.
With internal and external cash inflows to families slowing
down, household consumption slowed down, too. From 2008
to 2015, the average annual household consumption real
growth was a mere 1.5%. In 2015, the per capita household
consumption was 236 Euros per month (1 Euro=140 Lek) – only
4 Euros higher than in the previous year (The total household
consumption experienced a slight decrease in 2015, but
population shrank by 1.5% due to emigration. Thus, per capita
consumption was 1% higher).
In the first quarter of 2016, the per capita household consump-
tion was 232 Euros per month, or 9 Euros more than in the
same quarter of the previous year (Graph 1). There are no data
to break down this monthly consumption figure by region or by
income level, but it’s a sure bet that in large urban areas and in
high income families, consumption levels are much higher than
in rural areas and in poor families, respectively.
The 232 euros per capita spent monthly on consumption in the
beginning of 2016 are much higher than 170 Euros per month
registered in the first quarter of 2008, but most of the increase
was due to inflation. While per capita consumption rose by 37%
during that period, the consumer price index rose by 24%.
In the last two quarters of 2015 and in the first quarter of 2016,
household consumption picked up some steam (compared to
the same quarters of the previous years). However, the growth
rate is not anywhere near the growth rates Albania experienced
in the 1992-2008 period. And, as our survey of consumption
expectations shows (Page XX), the slow household consump-
tion growth may continue in the months ahead. Moreover, as
Graph 2 shows, Albania’s per capita monthly household
consumption remains below its neighbors’ consumption (Given
the high rural populations in Albania and Kosovo, household
consumption may be underestimated in these countries due to
own produce consumption in family farms).
Gross Domestic Product
Source: INSTATGraph 1. Per capita monthly household consumption in Albania, 2008-16 (in Euros)
170
196
173
180
173
208
190
173
183
216
192
194
198
227
203
201
201
227
214
205
212
236
215
219
223
256
227
223 224
253
234
234
232

SPECIAL REPORT
47October 2016
Given the slowdown in housing construction and remittances
from abroad (the consumption engine’s fuel in the 1992-2008
period), Albania is focusing its energies toward two other
drivers of consumption – investments and exports. Both can
increase employment, thus increasing incomes that go toward
consumption.
Source: CIA’s World FactbookGraph 2. Per capita monthly household consumption in Albania’s neighborhood, 2015 (in Euros)
MONTENEGRO
367
SERBIA
297
MACEDONIA
239
ALBANIA
236
KOSOVA
221

48 October 2016
SPECIAL REPORT
In the 2006-09 period, Albania experienced a boom in public
investments, mainly in road construction. At the height of that
boom (in 2008), public investments represented 9.4% of
Albania’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – financed almost
entirely through public debt. By comparison, in 2015, public
investments represented only 4.4% of GDP. Due to a debt
consolidation agreement with IMF, Albania will continue to
keep this low level of public investments – in four years, it
needs to bring down the public debt from the current level of
around 70% of GDP, to the level that prevailed before the start
of boom years’ debt binge (below 60% of GDP).
The slack created by lower public investments seems to be
filled by private investments in recent years.
As Graph 3 shows, despite the low level of public investments,
investments in fixed capital increased significantly in 2014 and
2015, compared to previous years. In 2015, Albania’s per capita
monthly investments in fixed capital were comparable to
Montenegro’s and Macedonia’s and much higher than Kosova’s
and Serbia’s (Graph 4)
Investments
Source: INSTATGraph 3. Per capita monthly investments in fixed capital in Albania, 2008-2016
2008-Q1
2008-Q2
2008-Q3
2008-Q4
2009-Q1
2009-Q2
2009-Q3
2009-Q4
2010-Q1
2010-Q2
2010-Q3
2010-Q4
2011-Q1
2011-Q2
2011-Q3
2011-Q4
2012-Q1
2012-Q2
2012-Q3
2012-Q4
2013-Q1
2013-Q2
2013-Q3
2013-Q4
2014-Q1
2014-Q2
2014-Q3
2014-Q4
2015-Q1
2015-Q2
2015-Q3
2015-Q4
2016-Q1
56
68
76
96
64
85
77 77
56
72 75
85
61
73
78
100
57
71 73
88
58
75
62
95
53
63 66
99
60
77 76
110
66

SPECIAL REPORT
49October 2016
While Serbia and Kosova are caught in the middle of a geostra-
tegic struggle and Macedonia and Montenegro have their
ethnic problems (which discourage investments), Albania has
only itself to blame for the still low level of investments. Slove-
nia, a Balkan country that didn’t go through the ethnic wars that
plagued the peninsula after the break of former Yugoslavia,
invested 314 euros per capita monthly in fixed capital in 2015.
By comparison, the ethnic-tension-free Albania invested almost
4 times less than Slovenia.
The high level of corruption and the justice system unfairness
and ineffectiveness are repeatedly mentioned in international
reports as a major hindrance for investments in Albania. In the
past decade, several proposed big seaside resort projects have
not come to fruition due to unresolved ownership conflicts
and/or corruption hurdles. The most notable was the Club Med
project in Kakome (near Saranda), which could bring high value
tourists to Albania.
Four others had been planned in the Adriatic coastline, but only
groups of private villas (called “touristic villages”) are built so
far. As the example of the Anatolia’s seaside resorts shows, the
billions invested in resorts bring income and hard currency to
the country, and provide employment for decades to come.
According to World Travel & Tourism Council, one billion dollars
in resort investments in developing countries creates a total of
20000 jobs – 4000 directly related to the resorts themselves.
The recent justice system reform in Albania, required and
encouraged by both the EU and the US, is expected to eventu-
ally lower corruption and increase the justice system’s fairness
and effectiveness. Meanwhile the land ownership reform is
expected to lower land title disputes. Furthermore, investments
in new electric power generation and transmission capacity will
increase the reliability of the power supply in Albania.
All of the above may encourage new investments, both in the
tourism sector and in manufacturing. However, in the next two
years, the main investments are expected to be concentrated
on the TAP gas pipeline and on the Devolli hydropower project
– both are projects that do not provide long-term employment.
Exports
As construction stopped being the engine of economic growth
by 2009, Albania’s exports started to grow dramatically. Until
2009, the value of exports covered only about a quarter of
imports (Graph 5). Starting in 2010, the percentage of imports
covered by exports exceeded 30%, reaching 45% in 2015.
Further export growth in the short run is hindered by low crude
oil and metallic ore prices in the international markets.
However, in the long run, a pickup in international prices,
coupled with an expected increase in investments due to
justice system and ownership reforms, may open the way for an
accelerated growth in Albania’s exports.
Currently, Albania’s per capita exports of goods and services
are significantly lower than most of its neighbors’ (Graph 6). In
2015, the per capita exports were at 105 euro per month and
included textiles, footwear, asphalt, metals and metallic ores,
crude oil, vegetables, fruits, and tobacco.
By comparison, Slovenia, the most developed country in the
Western Balkans, exported per capita 12 times more than
Albania, including in its exports high value products such as
manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment,
chemicals, and food.
Source: CIA’s World FactbookGraph 4. Per capita monthly investments in Albania’s neighborhood, 2015 (in Euros)
MONTENEGRO
88
SERBIA
65
MACEDONIA
82
ALBANIA
81
KOSOVA
69

50 October 2016
SPECIAL REPORT
Source: INSTATGraph 5. Percentage of imports covered by exports in Albania (1993-2015)
Source: CIA’s World FactbookGraph 6. Per capita monthly exports of goods and services in Albania’s neighborhood, 2015 (in Euros)
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
21%
23%
28%
22%
22%
25%
30%
24%
23% 23% 24%
26%
25%
26%
26%
26%
24%
34%
36%
40%
48% 46%
45%
MONTENEGRO
189
KOSOVA
14
MACEDONIA
177
SERBIA
168
ALBANIA
105

SPECIAL REPORT
51October 2016
As mentioned above, investment and export growth can reduce
unemployment. In turn, a reduction in unemployment can
increase consumption – thus, inducing the functioning of the
Albanian economy at or near full capacity (Bank of Albania
reports that the Albanian economy has underused its capacity
in the last 6 years).
However, the unemployment rate is currently very high in
Albania. The official unemployment rate is 16.9%, but it may
include those working at near-subsistence farming. According
to CIA’s World Factbook, the real unemployment rate may be
around 30%. In Albania’s neighborhood, only Kosova has
unemployment higher than 30%, with Macedonia being close to
this ﬁgure (Graph 7). By comparison, Slovenia has an unemploy-
ment rate of only 12%.
Unemployment
Source: CIA’s World FactbookGraph 7. Unemployment rates in Albania’s neighborhood, 2015
KOSOVA
35.2%
MONTENEGRO
18.5%
ALBANIA
30.0% MACEDONIA
26.9%
SERBIA
19.3%

World Academy of Tirana, Rr. Rezervave, Lunder - Tirana, ALBANIA
Tel.: +355 69 60 56 123 www.wat.al, info@wat.al
“International Baccalaureate (IB) World Schools share a common philosophy – a commitment to high quality, challenging, international
education that we believe is important for our students. Only Schools aut ts three
academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), or the Diploma Programme (and in
no guarantee that authorization will be granted.”
WORLD ACADEMY OF TIRANA
Proudly the only International Baccalaureate World School in Albania
IB school code: 006795

54
DIPLOMACY
October 2016
Sanja Bujas Juraga, Ambassador of Croatia to Albania
Originally from the beautiful Dalmatian City of Šibenik, she moved to Zagreb when she enrolled in the Faculty of Law. For her
and her family, Zagreb has become their hometown. She is married and has two children. Deep in her heart, she is very
much connected to her Dalmatian roots. Bujas Juraga is a professional diplomat for 23 years, ever since she joined the
Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

DIPLOMACY
55October 2016
Since my arrival, my positive feelings and expectations have
been confirmed in so many ways. I can see many similarities in
the mentality and the cultural spirit of our two nations. Besides,
the hospitality of Albanians is so unique and overwhelming to
the extent that it has made me feel like a citizen of Tirana.
It is a great honour for me to represent my country in the
Republic of Albania. Croatia and Albania have excellent
bilateral relations, based on openness and transparency,
without any open issues.
Nevertheless, it is a big challenge for me to mobilize different
sectors or our societies, local authorities and the business
communities to stronger engagement in developing our
bilateral cooperation, with measurable and visible results.
Albania and Croatia diplomatic relations - the state of the
bilateral relations today.
Diplomatic relations between Croatia and Albania have been
established in August 1992, early on after Croatia’s proclama-
tion of independence. Our independence movement coincided
with the processes of abolition of communism in Albania. Those
were turbulent times for both countries - of the greatest historic
significance for the future of our nations. Bearing in mind the
traditional friendship between our peoples, we have been
sympathetic and supportive of each other from then on really.
We had the same foreign policy priorities from the very begin-
ning - membership in NATO and the EU. We joined NATO
together in 2009 and have been most successfully cooperating
in this organization and different peacekeeping missions ever
since. Croatia has been a strong supporter to Albania on its
path to the EU from the very beginning and it still is one of the
fiercest advocates of EU enlargement in Brussels.
We do care about Albania and the developments in this
country. Right now we are paying the greatest attention to the
processes related to the justice reform. For the sake of the
Albanian citizens and for the sake of the stability and the
prosperity of this beautiful country we are most hopeful that
juridical reform will be continued efficiently, particularly its
implementation. The adoption of the new constitutional reform
on justice system by the Albanian Parliament on July 22 was a
tremendous success and victory. However there is much more
to be done without further delay of course - because missing
out on this opportunity will delay launching of negotiations with
the EU, and that will certainly be detrimental for the develop-
ment of the country.
Croatian experts have been very active in different EU projects
providing technical assistance to Albanian authorities. Croatia
is a junior partner in the EU Twinning Project on the State Audit
Reform, together with Poland and we are very proud of the
cooperation in this very important area, in simplified way to say
it is about how the state spends taxpayer’s money.
Croatia is the “youngest” member of the EU with the freshest
experience of EU accession and that is our advantage. We are
doing our best to transfer our knowledge and experiences to
Albanian institutions.
Her impressions on Albania
I assumed my duties as Croatian Ambassador in Tirana at
the very beginning of this year.
Coming to Albania seemed to me as going to a familiar
country because of our historic ties, because of the
beautiful Adriatic Sea that connects us, and above all
because of the genuine friendship between our nations
that I have been very well aware of.
Croatian Ambassador:
My priority?
To enhance better traffic
connections
By Rudina HOXHA

56
DIPLOMACY
The efficiency of our
cooperation with EU
institutions applies more
and more to the use of
the “famous” EU funds
as well, both on the
national and local level.
Economically our two countries are not
overly powerful but we can offer much
more to each other than we are doing
now.
There is definitely room for intensification
of our economic cooperation.
There is huge potential for that because
our economies are compatible in so
many ways and we have to explore all
opportunities. In order to facilitate that,
we need a direct flight Zagreb - Tirana
but also a maritime connection.
We are in the process of negotiating ferry
routes between Croatian ports and
Durres. These connections would be
most helpful for our business relations
but also for tourism.
My first and foremost priority is to initiate
the necessary changes - be it in trade
exchange, investments, joint ventures, or
cultural cooperation. To succeed in this,
we definitely need better traffic connec-
tions.
Things have been changing in Croatia
thanks to EU
Croatia’s membership in the European
Union is a dream come true, the same as
the membership in NATO. We are proud
of being part of the EU in any respect,
particularly in the decision making
processes and the creation of common
European policies. The EU is an intricate
structure as such as we know but we
have gradually mastered the operational
templates and our officials and experts
feel at home in Brussels by now.
October 2016

Our institutions are seriously looking into
all business and cooperation opportuni-
ties.
I would also like to mention another
recent example of new opportunities.
Namely, representatives of numerous
tourist agencies from Dubrovnik visited
Albania a few months back. The visit was
organized by the tourist boards of the
Dubrovnik County and the Albanian
Tourist Association. Croatian tour opera-
tors met with the Albanian partners. They
were discussing models and frameworks
of future cooperation and visited impor-
tant tourist sites in Albania. As a result of
this most successful event we have
already launched mixed tourist packages
for this tourist season.
This summer, in the contacts with
Croatian authorities and business people,
it was agreed to organize the study on a
multipurpose trip from Croatia to Albania.
That group of people will enjoy in your
country as tourists but also as visitors
exploring the possibilities for connec-
tions in business-science-education field.
There is so much potential and obviously
we are on the right track to tap it.
All in all, we would like us to take better
advantage of the friendship there is
between our countries and peoples. In
my term of duty I personally will not shy
any effort to make a tangible contribution
to the development of our relations with
this beautiful country and its people.
To come back to your specific question -
the answer is Yes. Our expectations have
been met of course. We knew all along
what EU membership stood for.
Things have been changing in Croatia
thanks to EU membership in many
positive ways.
The transition does not happen
overnight though and it certainly will take
a few more years for our society and
institutions to introduce the so called
European standards in all spheres. We
are surely getting there.
Tourism, so much potential between
us
Tourism is one of the most important
pillars of both the Croatian and Albanian
economies. That is another similarity
between our countries - the huge tourism
potential. We are more advanced in this
domain of course but thanks to that we
are in the position to assist Albania in the
development of its potential. Albanian
authorities are very much interested in
this specific kind of cooperation to the
point - as we have been told - that
Croatia is in many ways a model tourist
country for Albania. We are proud and
appreciative of that. Just recently there
was a very successful meeting in Tirana
between the Croatian Minister of
Construction and Spatial Planning Mr
Lovro Kuščević and Minister Eglantina
Gjermeni.
DIPLOMACY
57October 2016

Meet in Balance at
TheClub SPA
Encompassing 3,000 square meters,
the TheClub SPA offers a unique
range of activities for your well-being
– an oasis of relaxation and recupera-
tion for body and mind. We invite you
to immerse yourself in health and
well-being, and restore your body and
soul to physical balance and inner
harmony. Our TheClub Life Balance
programs will help you do just that.
The Swiss SPA Life Balance Philosophy
Business combined with the best of
well-being: Meet in Balance is espe-
cially designed to give your team-
building day or management meeting
that extra-special something to foster
team spirit, creative developments
and the well-being of you and your
colleagues.
You can utilise the philosophy of the
TheClub Life Balance to ensure that
your meeting is an effective and
memorable occasion. As, whatever
your situation in life, you have to find
the right balance in order to achieve
physical and mental well-being and
relaxation. You can choose from four
different programs: Beauty, Relax,
Vitality or Detox.
Treatment Menu
With our body treatments you can
turn off the world. Return back into
the game rejuvenated and revitalized.
Push the pause button for life and
revitalize your spirit with our expert
techniques and methods using
customized ingredients. Leave every-
thing up to us, and you’ll walk out of
our SPA with new energy and power
for your daily routine.
www.theclub.al

60 October 2016
REAL ESTATE

61October 2016
A new mega retail and entertainment project is adding up to the centre of Tirana and to the main metropolitan area. It is ‘Toptani
Shopping Center.’ On the eve of its inauguration, due in the fall, a talk with Ms. Rudina Hoxha, Responsible of Leasing & Marketing
at 'Toptani Shopping Center' sheds more light on this new project which is emerging day by day.
Hoxha underlines that “Toptani Shopping Center”, which satisfies the highest standards in services as well as architectural and
technical aspects, has a great asset. “Location! It is the nearest station for purchases. Apart from the best mix of brands and
services, we offer our customers the chance to save money, save time, save traffic jam! “Toptani Shopping Center” brings
everything, so near!,” she emphasizes in the following interview.
“Toptani Shopping Center” Beats Competitors,
everything so near you!

62
REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE
63October 2016
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet
Please can you make a summary of
some of the major facts about
“Toptani Shopping Center”?
“Toptani Shopping Center” is located in a
thriving and vibrant area in the heart of
Tirana, Albania’s capital and main metro-
politan area. It is the newest retail and
entertainment destination. With an area
of 60,000 sqm spanning over eight floors
and convenient parking space for 600
cars, we aim to provide an unforgettable
all-in-one shopping and entertainment
adventure by providing a powerful mix of
retail, dining, and entertainment facilities.
To summarize some key facts about
“Toptani Shopping Center”:
• Convenient location in the center
of Tirana
• Eight floors of retail, office, and
entertainment space
• Underground parking with a
capacity of 600 cars
• Unique, attractive design &
modern architecture
• Great visibility & lighting due to the
open atrium
• Home to famous international
brands
When can the “Toptani Shopping
Center” be inaugurated?
The Grand Opening is expected to be in
the autumn 2016. The exact date will be
made public through our marketing
campaign.
How will the “Toptani Shopping
Center “ fight off competition?
“Toptani Shopping Center” has the
biggest advantage. Location! It is the
nearest station for purchases. Apart from
the best mix of brands and services, we
offer our customers the chance to save
money, save time, save traffic jam!
“Toptani Shopping Center” brings every-
thing, so near!
What marketing methods have you
planned to use?
We will use a great mix of advertising,
events and social media to generate
awareness and drive foot traffic to
“Toptani Shopping Center.” In charge of
developing the marketing strategy I will
consider the complex layout of the center
and the huge variety of products and
services offered that need to be
promoted. It will require significant time
How will this new Center assist the businesses in the country?
“Toptani Shopping Center” is an ideal business opportunity for
investors and companies interested in retail, office and entertainment
premises. It is the perfect location to engage customers with business
companies. We believe that our center provides the highest
standards in services as well as in architectural details and technical
solutions.
We aim to create a shopping and entertainment experience by
offering the best possible range of retailers and services which
exceed all expectations in a modern and attractive environment. This
is a center designed for the tenants: A functional space, well
positioned in each floor, with a large flow of customers. We are
flexible in providing the ultimate space tailored to the specific
business needs and brands of interested parties.
spent at the center talking to merchants,
understanding their new products and
features, trying to get input into our
marketing initiatives, and informing them
of what we have planned for the center.

64 October 2016
PROPERTY

The Cape of Rodon(Kepi i Rodonit) is one of the most
untouched parts of Albania. The beauty of this Cape
elevates as the car drives ahead bit by bit. The wide space
and trees on both sides of the road leading to Cape of
Rodon make it hauntingly beautiful – a place where you’ll
discover solitude and barren beauty at its best. But this
part, in the North of Durres, has become even more
beautiful by a special project, which bears the authorship
of Enida Mitro-Wieshalla and Marcus Wieshalla. She is a
terrific Albanian architect while he is a German special-
ized in financial services. As a couple they make an ideal
combination to produce a perfect tourism project like Kepi
Privé.
This project, consisting of 8 stand-alone luxury villas and
a private hotel of 8 luxury rooms and suites, is so
particular because it is driven by the desire to guarantee
the quality of living of the people rather than money aim.
Kepi Privé guarantees the ‘wow’ effect. Nature is inside
each and every villa.
“What makes us unique is that we have built this project
from the client’s prospective. We are not just the investor
here. We create something while keeping always in mind
that it should be something about which the clients
should be very enthusiastic. It must trigger that “wow”
effect. Sometimes this kind of approach it costs a lot to
us. I don’t meanjustmoney but time and energy we put in
it to make ithappen. Thisis a kind of approach I have have
not seen anywhere else” says Enida Mitro-Wieshalla in the
following interview for Follow Business Albania.
Whereas Marcus Wieshalla thinks that this project is so
special as nature is brought inside whereby it is guaran-
teeing its quality of living. “It is a place where you pull
yourself and you feel great. You feel warm and in peace.
The quality of living is in the focus. The pure quality. And
another very important aspect is that the location and
architecture of the project keeps it is so very private,
discrete and intimate."
How would you characterize the architecture and the
design that you have created here? Is there an unifying
theme behind this project?
Enida:There are many aspects that we found in this special
contextthat inspired us to this design. So, we can say that this
design is tailor-made for this place.
The first thing that we integrated in the design was thetopogra-
phy. Every building is a response of the specific topography of
the site. Another importantelement is the linearity which is
inspired by the most important line we see here, the horizon. It
might look very simple but this is what attracts us most. The
result is a kind of architecture that does not pretend to
challenge its contextbut is just privileged to be part of it,
treating its context with great respect.
What are the clients’ needs in this project and what would
you have done differently if you would have not taken
into account the clients and their sensations?
Enida: May be the most important need to be fulfilled here is
the relation of the user with the outside space. We created
spaces that give you the most of this magnificent view.
65October 2016
PROPERTY
View from one of the villas at Kepi Prive
KEPI PRIVÈ
the start for a high quality
real estate in Albania
By Rudina HOXHA

Follow business albania oct2016 © Copyright FOLLOW BUSINESS ALBANIA 2016. All rights reserved.

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (11)

Similar to Follow business albania oct2016 © Copyright FOLLOW BUSINESS ALBANIA 2016. All rights reserved.

Similar to Follow business albania oct2016 © Copyright FOLLOW BUSINESS ALBANIA 2016. All rights reserved. (20)

More from FBA Publishing

More from FBA Publishing (7)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Follow business albania oct2016 © Copyright FOLLOW BUSINESS ALBANIA 2016. All rights reserved.