FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The US Department of State slaps the government hard on the law on strategic investments...
Prime Minister Edi Rama received a strong blow from the USA for strategic investments. We all know how Olta Xhaçka's husband, Pëllumb Gjoka, and many other people connected to power benefited from this law. But this fact has not escaped the international community either.
DASH published the report on the investment climate, where, in addition to criticism of PPPs and tenders, the law on strategic investments is mentioned in many cases. According to DASH, although it was created to absorb foreign investors, those who have benefited the most are government clients.
In order to promote investments in strategic sectors, the Government of Albania adopted a new law on strategic investments in May 2015. According to the new law, a "strategic investment" can benefit from assistance "assisted procedure" or "special procedure" from the government to assist in the permitting process. Despite the supporting legislation, very few foreign investors have benefited from the "Strategic Investor" status and the vast majority of projects have been awarded to domestic companies operating in the tourism sector. The insignificant part of foreign investors who have benefited from the status of strategic investors has encouraged the perception among foreign investors that domestic companies with strong ties to the ruling majority have mainly benefited from the law , says the DASH report in black and white .
But not only that. According to the Americans, although the deadlines of the law have been postponed, foreign investors are afraid to apply. " The initiative has not attracted significant foreign investment even though the law's deadline has been extended several times since its original deadline of December 2018. The law expired in December 2023 and the parliament extended its mandate until December 2024. Most of the approximately 60 projects approved focus on the tourism sector and are dominated by local investors ", it continues.
Vlora airport is also mentioned. According to DASH, the government intervened in a protected area by damaging biodiversity. Citing the EU, DASH states that through the law on strategic investments, protected areas are being interfered with.
" 36 international and local civil society organizations sent an open letter to Prime Minister Rama emphasizing the threat of irreversible damage that the Vlora International Airport Project presents to the Vjose-Nartë Protected Landscape. The EU noted in the Progress Report that the Strategic Investments legislation raises concerns for biodiversity protection, as it could lead to large tourism and industrial investments in protected areas. The European Commission recommended that the Albanian authorities take immediate measures to review and improve environmental and strategic impact assessments on existing and planned projects, plans and programs, especially in the hydropower, construction, tourism, transport and mining sectors ," the report continues. .
Persistent corruption, uneven enforcement of legislation, burdensome bureaucracy, distortion of competition and lack of transparency hamper the business community, according to Americans. / Pamphlet
Lini një Përgjigje