YEAR BOOK 2018 YEAR BOOK 2018 reklama per amcham 2018 press.pdf 1 01/03/2018 1:57:09 PM Alumil, është zgjedhja më e mirë për shtëpinë dhe biznesin tuaj. Alumil i jep zgjidhje cdo C kërkese tuaj, me një gamë të gjërë sistemesh, të certifikuar nga M institucionet më të njohur europiane për një komfort sa më të mirë termik. Y Tek ne do të gjeni sisteme për dyer dhe CM dritare me rrëshkitje dhe me hapje, MY sisteme fasadash, sistem termik CY grilash, kangjella xhami dhe shumë sisteme të tjera për përdorim CMY arkitektonik. K Alumil-Albania, Adresa: Autostrada Tiranë-Durrës, km7 Tel: +355 48 240 230/1/2 Fax: +355 48 240 234/5/6 Mob: +355 68 20 70 901 e-mail:[email protected] www.alumil.al PARTNER OF ALBANIA Content $2B Letter from U.S. Ambasador to Albania 09 Worth of Investment Letter from Minister of Finance and Economy 11 Letter from President of AmCham 12 Letter from Executive Director of AmCham 13 1600 people Code of Ethics 17 Total Employment Year 2018 in Review 18 Highlights 32 Finances 48 20,687 BOPD Important Information and Addresses 54 Record Production Membership at AmCham 66 www.bankerspetroleum.com/albania YEARBOOK 2018 7 PHILIP MORRIS ALBANIA SH.P.K. » PHILIP MORRIS ALBANIA (PMA) is a company present in Albania U.S. AMBASSADOR since 2007. Over the past 11 years PMA has been leading the legal market of tobacco products, being considered as the largest TO ALBANIA tobacco company in our country. » CURRENTLY, IN ALBANIA, we are distributing 24 tobacco brands, where one of them is Marlboro which is considered as the world’s number one brand of cigarettes, as well as Philip Morris, Merit and L&M. Dear American Chamber » PHILIP MORRIS ALBANIA is a subsidiary of Philip Morris International of Commerce Members, Inc. (PMI), the world’s leading tobacco company, with a workforce of 80,000 people who hail from every corner of the globe. I am pleased to introduce justice system, in particular, will without favoring one business or AmCham Albania’s 2018 prove a watershed moment in business owner. I am encouraged » PMI OPERATES in 48 production points in 32 different countries Yearbook. transforming Albania’s investment by AmCham Albania’s mission around the world. Our products are the choice of 150 million climate. Judicial reform will “to build a better business consumers worldwide, and for those who choose to continue to Supporting the AmCham and discourage corruption, encourage climate”. Together, we can urge smoke, we will continue to offer them the best quality products. American business interests in foreign and domestic investment, the government to implement Albania is an important mission and allow Albania to compete reforms and fight corruption. I ask » BUT, WE ARE AWARE that the millions of adult smokers are looking of the U.S. Embassy, and I am more successfully in the global all AmCham members, in seeking for less harmful, yet satisfying, alternatives to smoking and working committed to increasing U.S.- economy. This will inspire more to uphold core American values on giving them that choice. Albanian commercial ties. The U.S. companies to invest in of fairness and transparency, to U.S. Embassy’s partnership with Albania. American companies settle for nothing less. » A TOTAL OF OVER 400 DEDICATED SCIENTISTS, engineers, and AmCham is key to fostering these are top-notch corporate citizens I look forward to continuing the technicians developing less harmful alternatives to cigarettes at our developments. that bring the best practices in Embassy’s close cooperation with two Research & Development sites in Switzerland and Singapore. It While Albania’s economic transparency, innovation, and AmCham, as we work together to represents the biggest shift in our history and the right one for our performance is looking brighter, social responsibility. advance U.S. commercial interest consumers, our company, our shareholders, and society. the investment climate remains Yet, more must be done before in Albania. problematic. Reforms are still American companies will » PHILIP MORRIS ALBANIA, as part of Philip Morris International, needed, particularly if Albania is to return. Legislation, taxation, is on the same page when it comes to transformation and join the EU in the coming years. and regulation must promote Sincerely, technological revolution therefore we are preparing domestic I am convinced that reform of the economic development fairly, Donald Lu market for the greatest innovation in the company’s history. YEARBOOK 2018 9 LETTER FROM MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMY OVER 1 MILLION MANIFESTS VERIFIED Minister Ahmetaj Albania is by now in the midst of an The economy is expected to follow important political and economic season. an upward trajectory, throughout the The prospect of joining the European upcoming period, gradually converging Union is today more possible than ever. towards its potential. Consumption and We expect the opening of negotiations investments continue to be the main soon – this is an important step that contributors to economic growth, which is With an innovative finds the country more prepared to also reflected in the dynamics of the labor customer focused respond to new challenges. market. Employment also grew in 2017, of waiting in lines and at counters in Every country, on its trajectory of growth while unemployment went down by 4% just one year. The next important step is approach and “build- and economic development, reflects over the last four years. the reduction of the number of permits, the determination of the policy-makers, licenses and authorizations. own-operate” solution, entrepreneurs and citizens to implement Exports performance over the recent reforms. In the context of EU membership, years, especially in the services sector The state of business climate is reflected S2 Global helps the main challenge is convergence, not where tourism prevails, is an important in foreign investment figures, which over customers worldwide merely as a policy convergence, but mostly indicator in terms of improving the the past two years reached a record of over as a consequence of profound, continuous competitive position of the Albanian 1 billion euros, creating favorable premises access state-of-the- and uninterrupted structural reforms. economy. Exports and balance payment for similar levels in 2018, as well as in the improvements exhibit a very positive number of new businesses registered, art technology that In the last four years, the Albanian outlook, however, what is more important which only in the last year exceeded improves security, economy has undergone not an easy, but is the structural change toward higher 14,000 businesses. This is also reflected indispensable, process of reforms aimed at value-added goods categories in the recent in the level of economic sentiment, which streamlines trade and An OSI Systems Company fiscal consolidation, careful management years. remains above the long-term historical of public finances and continuous average. There is no doubt on the necessity increases revenue. reduction of public debt, which has been The business climate has entered another of continuing fiscal consolidation, reforms, accompanied by designing of appropriate stage, thanks to a profound transformative and intensive cooperation communication fiscal policies, as the foundation for the reform aimed at redefining the entire with entrepreneurship, in order to economic growth. entrepreneurial relationship with the public guarantee economic success. institutions and service provision. Nowadays, Albania is growing at the rate In addition to incentivizing fiscal policies I would like to take this opportunity to of 4%. Our objective is to ensure the right in priority sectors, such as tourism or ICT, express the gratitude and appreciation for foundation for a growth of 5.5% to 6% by the particular attention is paid to reducing the the valuable contribution of the American end of the next four years. The 2017 year bureaucracy burden, easing of services Chamber of Commerce, not only as a ended on a very good performance, with a and their online delivery. partner and defender of business interests, deficit of -2% of GDP and with a positive but also as an important constructive primary balance, for the third consecutive Customs-centered assessment, through voice for policymakers, in designing year, while public debt followed the trend a thoroughly transparent and on-line suitable economic policies. Albania is truly of uninterrupted decline. Private sector procedure, is revolutionary for the past prepared for the challenges it is facing, crediting showed positive signs of recovery, 27 years. This fundamentally changes the but it always needs more support and rising by 3.2% in the fourth quarter, while relationship between entrepreneurship assistance, as a European country that non-performing loans declined to 13.2% in and Customs inspectors, which very soon improves every day. December 2017, an important correction would be possible for exporters as well, benefitting a sound banking system and just like for importers. The real-time further encouragement of lending. Even in tracking of commercial traffic is another terms of revenue, the year 2017 marked important step in the road of implementing a new high, over 27.7% of GDP, a serious the “paperless” customs project. By www.screeningsolution.com reflection of the commitment to continue now, over 13 tax certificates are acquired Yours Sincerely, fiscal consolidation. online, saving the entrepreneurs 56 years Arben Ahmetaj YEARBOOK 2018 11 PRESIDENT OF AMCHAM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AMCHAM AmCham Yearbook 2017/2018 It is with great pleasure that the In 2017 the American Chamber of American Chamber of Commerce Commerce continued its open and frank celebrates its achievements and dialogue with the Government on issues Dear AmCham Members, results for the 2017 calendar year. I across the business spectrum. The would like to specifically thank the Chamber looks forward to continuing to Friends and Supporters, Board of Directors and the members, have a positive and constructively critical who have participated in our Sub- relationship with Albanian leadership Committees, for their work to make to take steps to formalize the economy, in the region.