Exports, only chrome and processing industry

The INSTAT data indicate that compared to 2000, the exports have grown with six times. Does this mean that the Albanian businesses and economy is competing the foreign markets?

“Unfortunately, if we see the structure of the Albanian exports through the years, although the value has increased, their structures have changed. Almost 80% of the exports are made of these products, the metals exported by Albania, together with the textiles and products of shoes, which are the main Albanian export”, declared Ilir Ciko, experts of the Foreign Commerce.

Ilir Ciko says that the Albanian exports will remain focused in a few products, if business will not be supported.

“It is not simply the role of the private businesses for finding the economic branches that need interventions for being more productive, but there’s the need for intervention from the government, in order to see further how the Albanian companies can be more productive in the internal Albanian market. The regional markets can also be able to compete with the international markets”, Ciko declared.

The World Bank classifies Albania as one of the countries that benefits less from its exports. The natural resources have been sold in a raw state for years, and the inward processing industry exports have a very small VAT in the country. But could this situation change?

“If this question would be treated more carefully 10 years ago, when the structure was similar, these companies were aware that they were able to turn Albania into a center of innovation and development of technologies, not simply for their production activities, but also for the supporting activities that are related with these companies”, Ciko declared.

The World Bank ranks Albania among the most backward countries for technological development and for low productivity. According to the data, only 10.9% of the Albanian export products are made of capital and knowledge. In Macedonia this goes to 35% and in Slovakia to 71%.

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