Addressing a ceremony marking the opening of the competition, an event that saw also the attendance of the Prime Minister Edi Rama, Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj recalled the fact that such international competitions have been already become a tradition since the government head used to serve as the Mayor of Tirana, transforming the Albanian capital into what he termed as the largest laboratory of architecture, aesthetics and beauty that generates economy.

“Today Tirana is home to around 40% of the country’s population and it generates about 50% of the national economy. This means that any investment has the potential to multiply in the territory of Albania,” Veliaj said.

Tirana Mayor highlighted a series of important projects implemented in the Albanian capital in the last few years, including the New Bazaar project, the national stadium that now generate more economy than initially projected. He also noted that a tree planting campaign launched by the then Mayor Edi Rama in 2000 was recently rewarded by the European Environmental Agency that ranked Tirana as one of top ten European capitals for share of urban tree cover.

Veliaj said that investment projects increase property value and quality of living in every neighbourhood and community, where the investment takes place.

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