The port industry is one of the most important pillars of the economic development of the country and soon the international competition will be opened for the construction of the new port in Porto Romano, a port which will serve Kosovo, North Macedonia also for countries of the region.

This is what the Deputy Prime Minister, at the same time Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku said at a meeting held over the weekend in Durrës on "Maritime Week 2024", an organization of the Durrës Port Authority dedicated to maritime and the further development of the sector.

In the speech held on this occasion, where ambassadors accredited to Albania and personalities from the field were present, Balluku said that "the investments and projects that have been made in 5 years by the Albanian government, are enough for 50 years. This is because the government is committed to catching up with EU countries by designing long-term initiatives for sustainable development".

Balluku said that to develop a sustainable economy, which is the basis of the country's tourism development, the port industry is returning to the main contributor to GDP, or as one of the sectors that should support the country's exports.

She appreciated the role of the maritime industry, not only for the tourist sector but this sector, as she said, "is related to security, which for a small country like Albania or in an exceptional geopolitical position, is one of the elements to make us very important in the region".

"It is often difficult for us to reach the 2% of GDP contribution to defense that is required from a NATO member country, but God has been generous with us and given us a geopolitical position since and when we do not reach that 2%, we are forgiven sometimes, as apart from being loyal to our allies, we are also geopolitically important. We are the ones who hold the great gate of Corridor VIII, which connects Italy with Albania, with North Macedonia, two countries that aspire to become members of the European Union, and with Bulgaria, another member of the European Union," said Balluku.

Also, she continued, we hold the gate of the Blue Corridor, the one that connects Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, and Greece. So all these give special importance to the maritime industry.

Balluku informed that he has already launched a national strategy for the revitalization of the Albanian railway network, starting from Durres, with the first railway connecting Tirana, Rinas airport, and the international port of Durres. To then continue with Corridor VIII, to connect from Durrës with Rrogozhina and then with Pogradec and exit at the two border points, that of North Macedonia and that of Greece, and to continue on a railway that will start from Durrës and will go to other areas of Albania and Kosovo.

"In just a few weeks, Durrës will have the opening of an international competition for the construction of a new port in the area of ??Porto Romano, a few miles from where we are, which will be the port of all Albanians and all Western Balkans, as it provides services with two dry ports, North Macedonia and Kosovo, in addition to Albania. Moreover, as hosts we are and as benefactors of all the other states of the region, we will have our doors open for Bosnia-Herzegovina, for Serbia, and even for Montenegro," stated Balluku.

Balluku emphasized the importance of regional cooperation as a factor in development. "Today before a new era of development, before the mindset and will of the Albanian Government and Prime Minister Rama, what we have to do is to start the engines, work with dedication, find the language and connect our programs with the European Union, with our strategic partners, the NATO member states, without a doubt the United States of America and above all with the neighbors," said Balluku.