Prime Minister Edi Rama took to the social media on Sunday to post the wining project unveiled at an international competition on the Multifunctional Centre at the National Vjosa Park that was announced four days ago in Tirana.

The jury included the Prime Minister Edi Rama, the Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro, the Chief Executive of Patagonia, Ryan Gellert, as well as national and international environmental, architectural and territorial planning experts, who assessed the proposed design by CEBRA studio as the most creative and innovative one in accordance with the criteria set by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, as well as the National Agency of Protected Areas.

In his remarks, PM Rama voiced confidence that the design would be materialized immediately after the winner is announced and that the project will open up new development perspective and opportunities for local young people to launch social and economic activities in the area.

The project envisages the construction of a visitors centre with recreational facilities and two information stations.

The visitors’ centre will serve as a gateway, starting point, and place to learn for the park’s visitors. The aim of the centre is to strengthen and promote the natural and cultural qualities of the Vjosa Valley territory as the river is one of the last wild rivers in Europe.

This includes efforts to preserve the ecosystems with threatened animal and plant species and considerable biodiversity living in the area.

Vjosa, the last wild river in Europe, was declared a National Park in March this year on the basis of which the 272 kilometres long Vjosa-Aoös River, from its source to the flow into the sea, including its branches and tributaries, is granted complete national and cross-border protection in accordance with the highest international standards and it is effectively preserved as a free-flowing and living river for the benefit of  the people and the nature n Albania, Greece and whole world.

Vjosa River originates from Greece’s Pindus Mountain and flows towards south-western Albania, where it traverses through five counties before flowing into the Adriatic Sea.

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