infrastructure shall be a real foundation to the economic growth. the positive chain effects are expected to be reflected on the preservation of the steady growth rhythms. hence, the overall macroeconomic stability will be seen as a precondition in promoting the further intensification of the domestic and foreign investments. at the closure, the continuation of reforms and of the indispensable structural improvements will bring about positive and long - term outcomes for the establishment of a more secure climate for the domestic and foreign business investments. thanking you once again for the invitation, i wish you good proceedings of this important event for the development of the business in albania.

fatos ibrahimi : development of small and medium - sized enterprises in albania speech by mr fatos ibrahimi, deputy governor of the bank of albania, at the meeting of launching the " program on the development of the small and medium - sized enterprises ", tirana, 20 january 2009. * * * your excellency mr. ambassador, honourable mr. ministers, honourable participants, it is a special pleasure for me to attend this event and i avail myself of the opportunity to greet on behalf of the bank of albania this joint recent initiative, between the ministry of economy and the italian collaboration. the financial support of small and medium - sized enterprises has a particular importance for the development of this project and for the release of managing abilities of the economic units. the financing of small enterprises, for the small developing economies, is a worthy opportunity to increase both the employment and the economic activity based on the initiative, ideas and producing capabilities of small groups or of distinguished individuals, who owns the courage and knowledge to generate material goods and to increase the welfare of the society. the small and medium - sized enterprises in albania, over the transition period, have been growing with quick steps, hence showing up as a distinguished characteristic of the whole albanian transition, having survived to the domestic economic difficulties as the fall of pyramid schemes or other problems related to the reforms and the process of completing the institutional and legal framework. the contribution of small enterprises to the growth of service, construction, trade and agriculture sectors, where micro - enterprises compose the largest part of this group, has been obviously significant for the short - term and stable revival of the albanian economy. these enterprises have provided a substantial input to the decrease of unemployment and to the rise of productivity in the aforementioned economic activities, with a considerable impact for the quick growth of the albanian economy. the domestic economy is noticeably improved over the last decade and the progress made over an expanded period of these last years reflects a positive and relatively stable macroeconomic environment. the growth rhythms of real gdp, are assessed as plausible, and in general higher compared to the other countries of the region. the consumer price level as well, has resulted in compliance with the target of the central bank for the price stability. “ the calmness ” of the external factors that struck the supply reaction and the domestic macroeconomic stability, provided the inflation rate be normalised within the targeted limits. the developments occurring in the exchange rate already are perceived as stable compared to its high fluctuations characterising the ’ 90s. in the