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In Tirana, the American Chamber of Commerce announced today, through the Annual Index, that the lack of qualified workers, monopolies, informality, corruption, and unfair competition are the main concerns of its members.
The index on the business climate shows a slight improvement this year, but it is still below the required average level.
Business representatives say that corruption is driving people to leave the country, causing a big hole in the economy.
The American Chamber's annual index on the business climate in Albania marked an improvement of nearly 2 percent this year, while the authors emphasized that the figures are still below the expected average.
The improvement from 41.4 to 43.4 percent was recorded in the annual survey of the members of the American Chamber of Albania, but they emphasize that showing that the current business environment in Albania is unproductive and significant improvement is needed.
"Their main concern, for the second year in a row, was the lack of qualified local employees." This indicator has a 1.4 percent decrease compared to last year, and remains one of the main problems. There is also a decrease in the total employment indicator", says the executive director of the American Chamber, Neritan Mullaj.
Among the main concerns in this business organization remain monopolies and unfair competition for nearly 64 percent of the respondents, the informal economy for over 63 percent of them, while 59.5 percent of the participants rated the "Level of Corruption" indicator poorly, listed it as a growing concern for most of them.
American businessman Mark Crawford, says that the Index remains below the required average of 50 percent again, so there is a lot to fix. He says the main concern remains corruption, which is driving people to flee.
The departure of people from the country, he says, is a big hole for the economy, a fundamental problem, because among them there are many qualified people as well as ordinary workers.
"Their departure means that Albanians are voting with their feet, going to other countries. That doesn't mean they aren't up to the job, but they are taking their skills and running with them. This is their choice, it is a vote, which is happening every day. If this continues, if qualified Albanians leave, it is very difficult for us to import to replace them", says Mr. Crawford.
In the conference with the Ministry of Justice, ways of cooperation were sought to improve the business climate.
The new president of the American Chamber of Albania, Grant Van Cleve emphasized that the Index speaks of concrete Albania, which needs to be improved, even though some see the glass half empty or full.
"Several things are happening here: there are initiatives for the deregulation of inspectors, there are results from the justice reform, and with SPAK. All these come together in the right way to overcome to a higher level, that is how the perception of development is changed, people are invited to return to the country and new people come to reach a significant level", said Mr. Cleve.
While the government is preparing a new anti-corruption strategy and an action plan, where it has also requested the cooperation of business circles.
"For the objectives of the new strategy to become viable, cooperation with as many actors as possible and a three-year action plan 2024-26 are needed. Its results will be measured step by step", says Rovena Pregja, director of anti-corruption programs at the Ministry of Justice.
In this year's Index, the progress of economic reforms in all three elements has also decreased: economic development, demand for goods and services as well as investments, as well as employment, compared to a year ago.
In improvement, according to this Index, are the relations of businesses with courts, with private properties, with intellectual property, with taxes and customs, with ministries, as well as anti-corruption initiatives. /VOA
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