H.E. Edi Rama, Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania

Anila Denaj, Minister of Economy & Finance, Republic of Albania

Moderator: Fatos Cocoli, Economic News Editor, Euronews Albania 

During the past few decades Albania has achieved significant economic progress. Being committed to implementing structural reforms, it increased economic productivity, improved governance, reduced poverty and unemployment and undertook efforts to enhance private sector competitiveness. The panel aims at discussing the policies Albania should follow so as to secure macro-fiscal sustainability and to establish an investment policy framework facilitating domestic and international businesses.

Ines Mucostepa, President, Union of Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Albania

Hilda Shijaku, Senior Economist, World Bank, Albania

Enio Jaço, President, American Chamber of Commerce in Albania

Rohan D’Souza, Member of the BoD , Foreign Investors Association of Albania

Moderator: Marinela Jazoj, Foreign Investors Association in Albania

Dominated by geopolitical shifts, increased external actors’ influence, internal distrust and an insecure EU membership path, the Western Balkans are in jeopardy of succumbing to introversion, regional nationalism and further divides. Can Albania exert a stabilizing impact in the region? 

Opening Statement - Etjen Xhafaj, DeputyMinister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Albania

H.E. Luigi Soreca, EU Ambassador to Albania 

H.E. Sophia Philippidou, Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to the Republic of Albania

Ioannis  Armakolas, 'Stavros Costopoulos' Senior Research Fellow, ELIAMEP

Moderator: Rezart Prifti, Professor, University of Tirana

Investments in infrastructure and construction industry played a strategic role in transforming Albania from a poor nation to a middle-income European state, increasing social prosperity and securing important growth rates. With the industry contributing about 9.2% to Albanian GDP in 2018, major ongoing and planned infrastructure projects in various sectors and significant public-private partnership initiatives, infrastructure and construction is a best prospect industry sector for the country.

Opening statement

Ilir Bejtja, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Republic of Albania

Discussants on Infrastructure

Chronis Akritidis, President of the BoD, Ergose

Stathis Natsis, Executive Director Overseas Business, TERNA

Alessandro Bragonzi, EIB representative for Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia

Nikolin Jaka, Chairman Chamber of Commerce and Industry Tirana

Moderator: Nevila Jones, Energy & Business Development Manager, Energia Gas & Power Albania

Albania, due to its strategic geographical position and abundance of natural resources has a significant potential to further develop its energy sector and attract foreign investments in a variety of promising areas. The aim of this panel is to discuss the necessary strategies and reforms so as for Albania to diversify its domestic generation, tackle the sector’s infrastructure shortcomings and expand promising investment opportunities.

Discussants on Energy

Dmitry Pankin, President, Black Sea Trade & Development Bank

Malfor Nuri, Country Manager, TAP, Albania

Erlet Shaqe, Chairman of the Albanian Energy Association
Björn Thies, Country Head, KfW Albania

Moderator: Dr Lorenc Gordani, law adviser, Energy Policy, Regulation & Infrastructure

The development of smart and urban solutions in Albania is a key priority for improving the quality of its governance, for exploiting its human resources full potential as well as for securing substantial long-term growth. The panel aims at presenting the current state of affairs regarding smart urban infrastructures in and to analyze the transformative effect of urban digitization projects to Albania’s economy and entrepreneurial activity

Keynote statement

Arbjan Mazniku, Deputy Mayor, Municipality of Tirana

Discussants

Achilleas Kanaris, CEO, Vodafone Albania

Mark Ossel, Vice President, Open Smart Grid Protocol

George Karamanolis, Co-Founder & CTO/CIO, Crowdpolicy

Olivier Duroyon, Head of Public Sector Segment Practice, Nokia Albania

George Kremlis, Chief adviser to the Greek PM, for Energy, Climate, Environment & Circular Economy

Adanela Musaraj, Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Italy

Moderator: Prof. Endri Papajorgji, Vice-Rector and Dean, Tirana Business University

Despite Albania’s economic transformation during the last years, the country is still faced with important challenges and barriers to growth. Reduced regional connectivity, low-performing institutions, poor public service delivery and lack of access to global markets are severely affecting Albania’s competitiveness. How Albania can create the conditions that secure accelerated and sustained economic growth? Is an export-led growth model necessary to enhance economic performance? 

Georgios Papanastasiou, CEO, Alpha Bank Albania

Maksim Caslli, Country Leader Albania & Kosovo, Deloitte

Davide Rogai, Council Advisor, Confindustria Albania

Monika Farka, Managing Partner, AIMS International, Albania

Moderator: Gavril Lasku, Executive Director of Italian-Albanian SME Development Program