CEI, Ministers of Economy, Albania
Senior economic officials and experts from 18 central and southeast European countries met Wednesday in Albania's capital to discuss regional cooperation and promotion of business links. The two-day meeting of the Central European Initiative, or CEI — created 17 years ago to bring the region's countries closer to the European Union — gathered together about 800 business leaders and officials from participating countries to build alliances and trade relations, a statement said." The event will focus on reforms and investments for stimulating business development, with particular attention to infrastructure, finance, investments, innovation for competitiveness, entrepreneurship, regional integration and trade promotion," the statement said. Participating countries included Albania, which holds the organizations annual rotating presidency, as well as Austria, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine. Seven CEI member states are EU members, and Bulgaria and Romania will join next year. Western Balkan countries are either in the initial integration steps or waiting to launch them. The economic forum meeting will be followed by the annual prime ministers' summit on Friday in Tirana.
Albanian Vice Prime Minister, Ilir Rusmajli (English):
“It is a privilege to host in our country so many personalities from 18 CEI countries and distinguish representatives from governments, international organizations and business world. The two days event is very important for Albania and for the initiative and your presence here will make it possible for us to exchange useful information and this will help our integration process. Ladies and gentlemen allow me to express the gratitude of Albanian Government to all of you being here. ”
Albanian Minister of Economy, Trade and Energy, Genc Ruli (English):
“The Economic Forum of the Central European Initiative (CEI), which began in Tirana, confirms the fact that within this governing period the image of Albania as a country offering potentials for investments has been created”.
Albanian Vice Prime Minister, Ilir Rusmajli (English):
“It is a privilege to host in our country so many personalities from 18 CEI countries and distinguish representatives from governments, international organizations and business world. The two days event is very important for Albania and for the initiative and your presence here will make it possible for us to exchange useful information and this will help our integration process. Ladies and gentlemen allow me to express the gratitude of Albanian Government to all of you being here. ”
Albanian Minister of Economy, Trade and Energy, Genc Ruli (English):
“The Economic Forum of the Central European Initiative (CEI), which began in Tirana, confirms the fact that within this governing period the image of Albania as a country offering potentials for investments has been created”.