“Argita offered her services and I agreed to cooperate with her. She
sent me the agreement, to get assured for her payment. She also wanted a
3% of success fee. I didn’t sign that agreement, because I considered
it a bribe.”
This was the shocking interview for Top Channel of the Pakistani businessmen, Zafar Ansar, who lives in Sweden. He implicated the legal studio of Argita Berisha with what he called a corruptive practice.
This was about a 100 million EUR investment that he wanted to make in Albania’s energy sector.
Zafar Ansar is returning in Tirana after four years, with the desire to conclude the projects that were left unfinished. He says that the government has changed now and he is here to see if the changes have really happened, and what opportunities are there for making business with Albania.
Different from the two former interviews given from Skype, Top Channel met with Mr.Ansar in Tirana, to ask him not only for his business plans.
First he answered to the question if he feels sorry for what happened four years ago, when he couldn’t realize the project after facing a number of problems.
Top Channel: Mr.Ansar, welcome to Top Channel, and this time face to face, different from the other times that we spoke on Skype.
Zafar Ansar: Thank you. It is a pleasure to be here in Tirana, as you said, face to face.
Top Channel: You have returned to Albania once again after four years. What is the goal of your visit?
Zafar Ansar: The purpose of this visit is to explore the possibilities and realize the projects that we started some years ago. The government has changed and I am here to see if the changes have really happened and what opportunities are there to make business in Albania.
Top Channel: Do you regret what happened four years ago, when you were not able to realize your project, after you faced a number of problems?
Zafar Ansar: From the businessman’s view it is always difficult when the projects are not realized for several reasons. In our case we had a dilemma, because we were aasked for a quantity of money that the Prime Minister’s daughter considered a success fee. This is not normal, in my view. I didn’t consider the 3% request as something right, and that’s why we didn’t sign the agreement. It was regretful that this investment was not realized. Those who lost from this project were not only my company, but also the Albanian people. They would profit cheaper energy, many people would be employed with good salaries, but nothing happened. Certainly that we lost money, but the Albanian people lost more than anyone.
Top Channel: How damaging were these practices that you described for you or other businesses? Your companies are merged in many countries of the world. Have you seen the 3% success fee as it happened in Albania?
Zafar Ansar: In the United States, lawyers would say that they would work for free for us, and then share the profit. This is the practice in the United States. I have never seen the request that I heard in Albania. This is not right. Besides paying lawyers for their working hours, they wanted a 3% success fee. That’s why our project was not realized. In my opinion, this story damaged more the Albanian people than us. This needs attention, so that it doesn’t happen again with me or other people who are interested to invest in Albania.
Top Channel: From your view as a businessman, what happened four years ago can be considered as corruption?
Zafar Ansar: From what I understood, this request was unusual. What does a success fee means? The person had influence and could have realized this project.
Top Channel: You just said that these practices need attention. According to you, these practices should be investigated by the Albanian justice?
I believe that these practices need to be investigated for correcting the mistakes. In the same time they should stop. This is for the own good of your country. Businessmen will then be able to invest their money in Albania.
Top Channel: If the Albanian justice would ask you to testify in court for what you described as a corruptive affair by the former Prime Minister’s daughter, would you be ready to cooperate?
Zafar Ansar: Accountability needs to have its place. Yes, I would consider this. I want to emphasize that the accountability should be implemented by the respective institutions. I am ready to have everything what I have said tested. Everything said from me is true.
Top Channel: Let’s turn to the business issue. During these days in Tirana you have held several business meetings. Do you think that the investment climate in Albania has changed for foreign investors?
Zafar Ansar: I have heard positive feedback from people that I meet, business communities and friends of mine. They are hopeful that things are moving tin the right direction. I really hope that it is like that.
Top Channel: Are you ready to return to your investment plans, which were not realized in the past? Could you sahre with us what are these plans to invest in Albania?
Zafar Ansar: We created a private fund for the 200 million EUR structure. It could be reviewed. We are interested to invest in the health care sector, oil refineries and the energy system, if the opportunities will continue.
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