RIYADH: The Kingdom and Albania have set out a new vision of bilateral relations with a focus on how to boost political, commercial and cultural links, said Albanian Ambassador to the Kingdom Admirim Banaj.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cultural cooperation is to be signed when Albanian Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha visits Riyadh soon, said Banaj, who was speaking at a reception hosted by the Albanian Embassy at the Sheraton hotel in Riyadh on Saturday night.
The reception was also attended by a number of Saudi officials and foreign diplomats.
“Tirana is in the process of signing an MoU with the Saudi Ministry of Culture & Information; the MoU will set the stage of organizing and celebrating cultural weeks in the two countries,” he said. “Our economic plan remains focused mainly in the fields of Saudi investments in Albania … there are efforts to expand relations in other sectors of bilateral interest like petrochemicals, banking, oil, food, tourism, human resources, minerals and water resources,” said Banaj.
He added that possible fields of cooperation include the two states’ common cultural heritage, handcrafts, arts, sports and education. Referring to growing relations between the Kingdom and Albania, Banaj said the two states remain committed to forging closer ties.
He added that the negative atmosphere of the Balkan wars and 9/11 had contributed to the loss of momentum between the two countries in the field of investments.
“We are trying hard and succeeding to accelerate the process again and bring Saudi investors again to Albania who already came to Tirana in early 1990,” he added.
Banaj said several investors and organizations such as Dallah Al-Baraka Holding Co., Saudi Cables, the Al-Zamil Group, ACOLID, Saudi Brothers, the Al-Khereiji Group, the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), the Al-Kharafi Group and other leading companies from the Gulf have a keen interest in Albania. “I also take the opportunity to express my thanks to Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, chairman of the Kingdom Holding Company, who is currently negotiating on some hopeful investments in Albania,” he added.
He pointed out that the Saudi government has been extending all necessary support to Albania.
A delegation of officials from the Saudi Fund for Development visited Albania recently and discussed a range of projects in the fields of health, education, infrastructure and energy.
“Moreover, the two countries have an ongoing fruitful, continuous and meaningful cooperation within the framework of the UN, the OIC and other international institutions,” he said.
On the economic front, Albania is emerging as a major trade and investment destination.
