INSTAT published today the report on rail transport for the fourth quarter of 2024.

However, the number of passengers who chose the train as a means of travel is 68.6% higher, compared to the same period last year.

Meanwhile, the volume of goods transported via railways is 133.6 thousand tons, marking an increase of 1.8%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2023.

Albania has a railway network of 253 km long. The following railway lines are still in use: Border – Gjorm 93 km, Durrës – Elbasan 76 km, Rrogozhinë – Fier 49 km and Fier – Vlorë 35 km.

While the rail transport of goods is carried out at distances of 0 – 49 km and 50 – 150 km. /j.p/p.s./

This production was realized by public hydro plants at 57.9 % of net domestic production, by independent power producers to the extent 41.5 % and other producers (Photovoltaics) that generated 0.6 % of net domestic electricity production.

Gross import of electric power (including exchanges), in the first quarter of 2023, reached the value 246 GWh from 715 GWh compared to the same period of the previous year, marking a decrease by 2.9 times. Gross export (including exchanges) reached the value 904 GWh from 373 GWh marking a increase with 2.4 times./p.s./

The construction and tourism gave the main impact on economic growth with 10% each.

According to the report published today by INSTAT, the activity of agriculture, forestry and fishing increased by 0.22%. The activity of industry, energy and water had a decrease of 1.38%. Construction activity had an increase of 10.66%. The group of trade, transport, accommodation and food service activities had an increase of 9.94%.

Meanwhile, the group of information and communication activities showed an increase of 6.54%. Financial and insurance activity recorded an increase of 7.93%. Real estate activity recorded an increase of 13.84%.

The group of professional activities and administrative services appeared with an increase of 0.53%. The group of public administration, education and health activities showed a decrease of 3.33%. The group of arts, entertainment and recreation, other service activities had an increase of 37.50%. While, the net taxes on products decreased by 1.85%.

In regard to the changes compared to the previous quarter, the Gross Domestic Product indicator is estimated with an increase of 2.33%. /j.p/p.s./

INSTAT published today the report on the Gross Domestic Product, according to which the GDP in the second quarter of the current year decreased by 1.16% compared to the previous quarter affected by the difficult global situation caused by high prices and problems with the supply as a result of Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine.

INSTAT said that, in the second quarter of the year trade, transport, accommodation and food service branches made a positive contribution with 1.68% to the overall economic growth of 2.23%; real estate activities with 0.65%, professional activities and administrative services with 0.33%, agriculture, forestry and fishing with 0.31%, financial and insurance activities with 0.26%, while information and communication with 0.06%.

Construction activity contributed negatively with 0.49%, industry, energy and water with 0.46%, public administration, education and health with 0.32%, arts, entertainment, recreation and other service activities with 0.09%.

According to the INSTAT report, net taxes on products contributed positively by 0.29%.

In the second quarter of 2022, if compared to the second quarter of 2021, the main contributing branches are the activity of agriculture, forestry and fishing, which had an increase of 1.55%.

The group of activities “trade, transport, accommodation” and “food service” had an increase of 11.42%. The group of activities “information and communication” appeared with an increase of 1.7%. Financial and insurance activity recorded an increase of 13.20%; real estate activity recorded an increase of 11.38%. The group of professional activities and administrative services appeared with an increase of 5.68%. Meanwhile, net taxes on products increased by 2.59%.

The industry, energy and water activity decreased by 3.85%, construction decreased by 5.26%. /r.e/p.s./

The State Police said that it has managed to neutralize the flames.

“In order not to create panic among tourists and citizens, the Police officers used circumstantial means, making it possible to neutralize the flames. The intervention of the fire brigade was difficult due to the terrain since the fire had fallen in several spots around the castle. Thanks to the immediate reaction of the police officers and the local residents, and later on of the firefighters, it was managed to prevent spread of the fire which could have caused great damage to the museum district.” the announcement stated.

Berat Local Police Directorate appealed to all residents to be careful and not to start fires under any circumstances, as they will face the law. /j.p/p.s./

The foreign direct investment increased by 17% if compared with the same period last year.

According to the Bank of Albania, the re-invested profits of foreign enterprises expanded by 15% and reached the value of 137 million Euros. While the injection of new capital in the first quarter of 2022 marked the value of 105 million Euros, 15% less compared to the same period last year.

Among the sectors with the highest growth of foreign investments during the first quarter is ranked the extractive industry, with about 24% of the total flow of foreign direct investment, followed by the real estate sector and then the financial sector with respectively 18.5% and 15% of total annual flows./p.s./

“5 Maji” area will be in few years time the area in most demand of ​​Tirana and the most modern neighbourhood of the capital (along with the new “Kombinat” quarter); with apartments, schools, kindergartens, crèches, medical centres, public institutions, sports fields, clubs, restaurants, commercial units, public parks and lots of greenery “, said Rama.

The prime minister expressed pride that the homeless in the earthquake in Tirana will receive the apartments of these neighbourhoods for free, as a real estate which will only increase. /m.m//a.a/p.s./

According to the Institute of Statistics, INSTAT, the production of electricity from public hydropower plants, in the third quarter of 2021, reached 1,047 GWh as compared with 978 GWh produced in the third quarter of 2020, thus recording an increase in production by 7.1%.

While in private hydropower plants and those given by concession there were produced 311 GWh of electricity compared to 292 GWh produced in the same period last year, recording an increase in electricity production by 6.7%. /a.a/p.s./

The new quarter consists of 524 apartments, 37 service units, 375 parking lots, shopping centre, service units and infrastructure of first quality urban standards.

Prime Minister Edi Rama shared today photos of the reconstructed quarter in Laç where there is done a great work for reconstruction of the city following the devastating earthquake.

“Here’s the revived Laç like no one imagined on the day after the earthquake. The workers are putting the last finishing touches. And the affected families will soon move into the new houses”, said Rama.

The new blocks of apartments in Laç are connected with the new water supply network, which will provide non-stop running water for the local residents. Meanwhile, the works have already begun for the new school that is added to this quarter and where the children will have the opportunity to use the community facilities of the new quarter./m.m/p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama, Minister of State for Reconstruction Arben Ahmetaj together with the Mayor of Kurbin Majlinda Cara were today at this construction site to see what has been achieved so far.

“Following communication with the Turkish company, we say that by the end of September the whole construction site will be completed. At the same time, the works on the school in this area have started. We are also working with individual apartments “, said Mayor Cara.

Cara also informed that within September will start the work for the structural reinforcement of 36 damaged buildings at DS4 level.

The mayor said that the underground works for the big canal that will adjust the infamous stream that once flooded the city have been completed and the focus is on the above-ground infrastructure.

Cara said that the new neighborhood will have uninterrupted water supply for the citizens after the connection with the new water supply has been finished.

On his part, Minister Ahmetaj explained the procedure for allocating these apartments to the citizens.

“According to the law, priority is given to families living on economic assistance, single mothers, or families of police officers killed on duty, then there will be a public lottery for the division of apartments,” said Ahmetaj. /j.p/p.s./