This manual aims to describe the standard operating procedures for the approval, operation and administration of Global/Comprehensive Guarantee, Reduced Guarantee and Guarantee Waiver in Albanian Customs.

It provides guidance for economic operators wishing to benefit from these opportunities and ensures that the processes are clear and defined.

The Global Guarantee offers the opportunity to manage and supervise customs procedures in a single guarantee.

Meanwhile, the “Reduced Guarantee” and “Exemption from Guarantee” are options that allow for the reduction of financial costs for maintaining guarantees and the simplification of processes for economic operators that meet certain conditions. /k.s/r.e/a.f/p.s./

The discussions focused on the performance of the Sovereign Guarantee Scheme and the Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Financing Program (MSF), analyzing the progress made so far, the challenges in implementation and the measures to increase their effectiveness in supporting the real economy.

Minister of Finance Petrit Malaj emphasized that agriculture remains a strategic priority, especially within the framework of the integration process into the European common market, which requires increased productivity and added value in the production chain. According to him, the Sovereign Guarantee Scheme serves as an instrument for accelerating investments in the sector, while support will continue through the national agricultural scheme, the fiscal package and the resumption of IPARD III.

On his part, Governor of the Bank of Albania Gent Sejko appreciated the scheme as a complementary instrument that helps ensure credit reaches the real economy, guarded by high-quality risk management. He noted the progress achieved, but also the need to address some operational issues to increase its absorption and effectiveness, emphasizing the significance of continuous coordination between institutions and banks.

For his part, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Andis Salla said that after a period of getting acquainted with the instrument, there has been an increase in interest and applications from farmers and agro-processing businesses. According to him, this shows both the need for financing and confidence in the development potential of the sector.

Banking sector leaders confirmed that during the recent months there has been a revival of the scheme. Furthermore, according to internal data, the banks confirmed that, currently, a number of applications are in the process of being evaluated.

The banking sector offered several opinions on various interventions that could be undertaken in the future, with the aim of increasing the efficiency of the use of the schemes. The ministers and the governor got committed to seriously evaluating these opinions and continuing the discussion in future meetings.

The parties reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen cooperation with the aim of increasing lending, promoting investments and supporting sustainable economic development, with a particular focus on agriculture and small businesses. /j.p/p.s./

Minister of Economy, Culture and Innovation Blendi Gonxhja stated that this program, funded by the European Union and the state budget, will provide employment opportunities, vocational training, support for education and institutional strengthening.

“The main goal of the program is that every young person who is unemployed and outside the education or vocational training system (NEET) receives a concrete offer within 4 months of registration,” he stressed.

The program is being implemented initially in three pilot regions, Tirana, Shkodra and Vlora, involving nine municipalities in total.

So far, there have been registered 1,082 young people, of whom 55% are women.

According to official data, 71% of the young people involved have received an offer of employment, education or training, while 764 of them have been integrated into the labor market or the education system.

For 2025, the aim is to identify 1,500 young people and refer 800 of them to the scheme.

“By 2030, the objective is for 40,000 young people to benefit from the program and to achieve a reduction in the NEET rate to 15%, in line with the European Union average,” said the minister. /a.gj/p.s./

In a live communication via the social media, PM Rama responded to commenter remarks regarding SPAK performance, saying that he and SP are the only guarantee for the future existence of this new justice body.

“SPAK is not my brainchild, but it is of the Constitution and the justice system reform. To put it clearly, the United States of America has backtracked from this process. If SPAK was to be founded by US, it would have ceased working. SP and I are the only guarantee to ensure SPAK’s survival and progress in the face of an all-sided war from the media and political swamp. SP has done the justice reform and it is the guarantor of this reform,” he stated.

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The state guarantee instrument enables businesses in the processing industry to receive financial support through lending with favorable conditions, in order to make investments in the further automation of production lines, as well as the availability of liquidity for the purchase of raw materials.

The guarantee of 4 billion Lekë covers up to 70% of loans from the banking system with a margin of no more than 1.5% above the base rate. The pay back term is foreseen up to 7 years for loans for investment and up to 3 years for loans for the purchase of raw materials.

The State Guarantee Instrument will be implemented through agreements with the 11 commercial banks operating in the banking system, where the businesses of the processing industry sector will have the opportunity until the end of October 2024 to apply to them for loans with facilitating conditions, while the final deadline for concluding loan contracts has been set until the end of the current year.

The State Guarantee and financial support for businesses in this sector aims to support the improvement and updating of technological processes, as well as increasing the level of productivity and competitiveness of these businesses./r.e/p.s./

Rama said that, “We are aware of your situation of financial uncertainty, but also the general situation. We have set the sovereign guarantee that you can take and use it with full state guarantee. You will not lose money from a socially responsible investment.”

“This sovereign guarantee is for all those involved in the supply chain. They have the opportunity to invest and spend properly. You will use it as you usually use the reserves”, said Rama.

PM Rama said that, “I came to thank you because we are really grateful for the sensitivity and readiness expressed not in words, but in deeds on your part to become part of this joint effort that concerns not only us, but all countries” .

Further on, the prime minister highlighted the fact that the government has set up two boards to address the concerns although, as he put it this is not so natural in the free market system that Albania has chosen. He said that it was natural for the state to intervene to determine profit margins, to set ceiling level of profit and so on.

“However, it is not natural for such a crisis war situation to directly affect the basis of daily life, which is the supply of energy and basic food. You are very clear how a war that is miles away from Albania directly affects your activity”, underlined Rama.

Meanwhile, Rama continued, it is enough to see some very simple data on the weight that these two countries directly involved in this conflict, Russia and Ukraine, the aggressor and the victim, have in the supply of basic products to the markets of Europe and beyond, so that to understand the strong constraint.

Rama also took the opportunity to mention other measures the government has taken so that to make it easier for the business.

“The significant reduction of the processing of customs declarations in order to save time and business costs has had a rather positive impact on easing the burden of the current crisis”.

“The 34 services offered online at the customs have radically changed the quality of customs service,” Rama said./p.s./

Ekonomi said that, “At the Price Monitoring and Transparency Board, we agreed on the businessmen being very careful about the profit margin.”

“Some of them expressed their readiness to work with zero profit margin, but just to cover operational costs so that not to make it more difficult for Albanian families,” said Ekonomi.

Ekonomi stressed that, “The Albanian government has come to the aid of families throughout the country by making available to families in need and those with low incomes a payment to cover all the costs of increasing prices of the basic basket products”.

“We shall provide 3 thousand Lekë to the pensioners per month for 3 months. We should not forget to compensate the urban transport ticket, as well as the increase of the minimum salary that goes to 32 thousand Lekë starting from April 1, while the tax is zero “, said Ekonomi. /m.m//a.a/p.s./

Speaking at the meeting held today at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with the participation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, Minister of Finance and Economy Delina Ibrahimaj, BoA Governor Gent Sejko and other relevant actors, Krifca stressed that, “Today, agriculture has brought a new reality where exports have increased and technology has become a mechanism for agricultural production and the Albanian product is offering more and more security.”

Krifca appealed to banks to support agricultural financing.

“Although during 2021 the level of credit to agriculture has increased by 16.2% compared to a year ago, again the level of total credit to agriculture does not exceed 1.5% of the lending portfolio,” said the minister.

According to her, agriculture engages 50% of the labor force and is an important factor in the country’s economy, so she said, “I appeal for agriculture to be the target of lending by the banking system and therefore the government is committed to supporting you by make available the guarantee fund as part of the support package of 4 billion Lekë”./p.s./

In this context, Minister Delina Ibrahimaj held a meeting today with representatives of this sector.

“The sovereign guarantee for the manufacturing sector with a fund of 4 billion lekë is expected to be distributed over the next 4 years, in order to increase competitiveness, productivity and strategic support of this sector,” she said. /a.a/r.e/p.s./

In the press conference after the government meeting, Balluku stressed that, “This is a strategy that we have announced since the beginning of October together with the declaration of emergency for the energy crisis”.

As she put it, we need to keep in mind that the high global prices today pose a big problem.

“What is a concern for us is the lack of energy in the market, which is in short supply in the entire Balkan area, but of course in Europe as well. In the face of this situation, what we are doing, through all legal acts, we are working to get these amounts of energy and of course with long contracts, which will give us the opportunity for better prices than those traded today in the market”, stated Balluku.

Balluku stressed that our priority is to create a shield for household subscribers and small business but also for large businesses seeking to buy energy from free market operators although the reform provides for the purchase of energy in the free market. /a.a/p.s./