Tirana, October 14, 2024_During a public event at the Prime Minister’s Office, a feasibility study for the creation of Tirana Exhibition Centre – EXPO Albania has been presented. Funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and carried out by the University of Verona in collaboration with VeronaFiere, this study includes macroeconomic context mapping, a business model, a financial and a management plan, along with several recommendations for implementation and launch, delivered to the local counterpart Albanian Investment Corporation – AIC.
EXPO Albania means to be one of the main exhibition venues in the Balkans, strategically designed to foster exchanges, international partnerships and development. Located 7 km from the city center and close to the international airport, it will provide an area of 17,000 m² including exhibition halls, conference rooms and event halls. Large industrial exhibitions, agricultural fairs, business conferences and festivals will be hosted by EXPO Albania, a hub for crucial sectors in the Albanian economy such as tourism, energy and agriculture.
The presentation was attended by Albanian companies at the presence of three Albanian Ministers (Local Government, Enterprise and Business, Economy, Culture and Innovation), the Embassy of Italy to Albania and Pro-Rector of the University of Verona, accompanied by partners from VeronaFiere.
Stefania Vizzaccaro, Head of AICS Tirana, stated in her speech that in the last 20 years the Italian Cooperation has been supporting “Albanian Small and Medium Enterprises, providing technical assistance, training, and funds in different sectors such as agri-food, tourism, culture and environment. We firmly believe that economic development can and must be sustainable, in terms of production and consumption, and that social inclusion and the protection of the most vulnerable groups are essential in this process.” In addition, Vizzaccaro pointed out that “the involvement of private sector represents the most recent step in the Italian Development Cooperation strategy“.
A technical session in the afternoon provided an additional opportunity to explore specific issues with representatives of the private sector and governmental institutions.
