Albanian Times Vol. Occidental, with a 50 percent interest, is the operator for a group that includes Anschutz Albania Corporation with a 30 percent interest and IPC Albania Ltd. with a 20 percent interest. The construction is planned for to start by the end of January. The reconstruction of a ferry terminal in Durres has also been planned to start this year.
Officials blame foreign companies for failing to pay their share of the investment.
Of 800,000 tons of cement that Albanian factories produced annually, the remaining factories in Vlora, Fushe-Kruja, Elbasan and Shkodra hardly turn out 200,000 tons per year. The factories have been included in a new privatisation scheme but the process cannot start unless the court decides on their disagreements with foreign partners. Officials say priority will be given to strategic investors that will introduce a development program necessary for the improvement of production capabilities, the improvement of technology and environment protection. The state's participation in the capital investments will be negotiated by the partners. January 12 - The Italian Labor Minister Tiziano Treu signed a cooperation agreement in Tirana on the seasonal employment of Albanians in Italy, professional training of staff, and the establishment of private employment agencies in Albania, which will mediate for the employment of Albanian citizens in Italy and other European countries.