Enabling Environments for Sustainable Enterprises
Albanian employers present business priorities for sustained enterprise growth
11 December 2017
(ILO-Budapest) On 5 December 2017, the Employers’ Organisation Business Albania presented the findings of the research report on ”Enabling Business Environment for Sustainable Enterprises (EESE) in Albania”.
The launching event was attended by Mr. Arben Ahmetaj, Minister of Finance and Economy, Ms. Sonila Qato, Minister of State for Entrepreneurs’ Protection, Ms. Dajna Sorensen, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy in charge of Labour Issues, Mr. Heinz Koller, ILO Assistant Director General and Regional Director for Europe, and by Mr. Dragan Radic, ILO Senior Specialist for Employers at DWT/CO-Budapest.
Mr. Luan Bregasi, President of Business Albania, highlighted the importance of the findings of the EESE National Report which was a result of over 400 interviews with business representatives in Albania. He talked specifically about the EESE findings, the key challenges and main recommendations, such as:
• Weak legal and regulatory framework to be revised and made enforceable.
• Tax rates and tax administration to review with the aim of increasing their clarity, coherence and competitiveness.
• Inadequate training and skills mismatch to be corrected by analysis of skills gaps, curricula development with employers participation and improved financing of vocational schools.
• Corruption—complex measures to identify weaknesses in existing laws, public procurement system, to establish an anti-corruption policy body and an e-platform.
• High level of informality in the economy and unfair competition—foster transition to formality by reduced laws and policies negatively impacting small businesses, by microcredits to stimulate self-employment.
Sonila Qato, Minister of Entrepreneurs’ Protection, thought that the report should be shared and discussed across all the Ministries in the Government. She also committed to following up on the recommendations established in the report and to improving the business environment in Albania.
The EESE Report was launched in the presence of over 130 participants, mainly from the business community, but also trade union leaders and diplomatic corps, and was broadcasted live in Albania.
The launching event was attended by Mr. Arben Ahmetaj, Minister of Finance and Economy, Ms. Sonila Qato, Minister of State for Entrepreneurs’ Protection, Ms. Dajna Sorensen, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy in charge of Labour Issues, Mr. Heinz Koller, ILO Assistant Director General and Regional Director for Europe, and by Mr. Dragan Radic, ILO Senior Specialist for Employers at DWT/CO-Budapest.
Mr. Luan Bregasi, President of Business Albania, highlighted the importance of the findings of the EESE National Report which was a result of over 400 interviews with business representatives in Albania. He talked specifically about the EESE findings, the key challenges and main recommendations, such as:
• Weak legal and regulatory framework to be revised and made enforceable.
• Tax rates and tax administration to review with the aim of increasing their clarity, coherence and competitiveness.
• Inadequate training and skills mismatch to be corrected by analysis of skills gaps, curricula development with employers participation and improved financing of vocational schools.
• Corruption—complex measures to identify weaknesses in existing laws, public procurement system, to establish an anti-corruption policy body and an e-platform.
• High level of informality in the economy and unfair competition—foster transition to formality by reduced laws and policies negatively impacting small businesses, by microcredits to stimulate self-employment.
Sonila Qato, Minister of Entrepreneurs’ Protection, thought that the report should be shared and discussed across all the Ministries in the Government. She also committed to following up on the recommendations established in the report and to improving the business environment in Albania.
The EESE Report was launched in the presence of over 130 participants, mainly from the business community, but also trade union leaders and diplomatic corps, and was broadcasted live in Albania.