TIRANA, July 18 /ATA/ – Former Finance Minister Arben Ahmetaj defended Thursday the private-public partnerships (PPP) as a practice that serves citizens and the country’s development.
Addressing lawmakers at the parliament’s regular plenary session, the Socialist MP said that the government no longer accepts unsolicited proposals for PPP projects, while the Ministry of Finance has now a greater oversight role on the fiscal control and risks.
Ahmetaj said that more PPP projects will be awarded in the citizens’ best interest in the future and called on the parliamentary opposition to stop demonizing such a practice.
Ahmetaj noted that “PPP projects are public investment instruments and government assumes three out of 12 risks on the manual of concessions, including the political cost.”
Former Finance Minister Ahmetaj noted that 186 out of 200 concessionary contracts have been awarded by the previous centre-right government of the ex-Prime Minister Berisha.
“This government won’t give up the PPP projects that serve citizens and the country’s development. When we lack the financial means than the projects will be transferred to the private sector,” Ahmetaj said.
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