VIENNA, 13 March 2020 –The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Government of the Republic of Albania have agreed a comprehensive programmatic framework to achieve inclusive and sustainable industrial development over the next five years. The Country Programme (CP) for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development (ISID) in Albania 2020-2024 includes around twenty project proposals in three priority areas: industrial competitiveness and market access; productive employment and entrepreneurship development; and sustainable energy for productive uses and environmental management.

The CP was signed by Permanent Representative of the Republic of Albania to the International Organizations in Vienna, Ambassador Igli Hasani and UNIDO’s Director General, LI Yong, at UNIDO Headquarters.

Permanent Representative Hasani welcomed the signing of the first Country Programme Framework as a step forward in the cooperation between the Albanian Government and UNIDO. He highlighted that the identified components are well aligned with the Albanian priorities in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and appreciated the fact that the CP is gender-mainstreamed. He reaffirmed the Albanian side will further develop technical cooperation with UNIDO in the framework of the new CP.

UNIDO’s Director General Li said, “The signed programme opens up new opportunities to be seized in support of ISID in Albania. Realization of a full-fledged resource-mobilization strategy and engagement with multilateral and bilateral donors are important prerequisites for its successful implementation. UNIDO, together with the Government of Albania will continue to work closely towards CP’s upscaling.”

UNIDO is currently implementing two technical cooperation projects in Albania to ensure compliance with the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer by phasing out the use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons and reducing their negative impacts on human health and the environment. Another UNIDO project strives to transform the market for using organic waste from olive oil production and other industries for energy generation (see: Bioenergy that is good for business).

The proposed UNIDO technical cooperation projects focus on such key areas as competiveness of export-oriented industries through industrial modernization and upgrading; fostering innovation eco-systems and digital transformation; upgrading the competitiveness of agri-food value chains; and eco-industrial parks development.

The Country Programme for Albania is expected to be officially launched in Tirana in the first half of 2020.

For more information, please contact:

Solomiya Omelyan

UNIDO Regional Division – Europe and Central Asia

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More information on UNIDO’s Country Programmes for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development here.