06/16/00

Text: Albania Receives Port Grant From TDA

(June 13: Part of SBDI initiative)

At a South Balkan Development Initiative (SBDI) Coordinating Group Meeting June 13 in Tirana, Albania, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) awarded a $1.4 million grant intended to procure equipment needed to upgrade the Albanian ports of Durres and Vlora, according to a TDA press release.

Albanian Deputy Minister of Transport Ahmet Ceni referred to the development of the two ports as a "national transportation priority." The press release stated that Durres, the larger of the two, is a "critical link" between the Mediterranean and the Balkan region, handling 85% of the international maritime traffic.

SBDI was designed in 1995 to help Albania, Bulgaria, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia develop and integrate their transportation infrastructure along their connecting east-west corridor.

Following is the text of the press release:
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U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA)
Washington, D.C.
June 13, 2000

ALBANIAN PORT GRANT FOR $1.4 MILLION SIGNED AT SBDI MEETING

Tirana, Albania (June 13, 2000) - The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) awarded today a $1.4 million grant to procure equipment needed to upgrade the Albanian ports of Durres and Vlora, at the 17th Coordinating Group Meeting of the South Balkan Development Initiative (SBDI) today. TDA Director J. Joseph Grandmaison signed the grants on behalf of the agency, commending the group on a productive and successful meeting. TDA awarded a total of almost $2.5 million in grants at the meeting.

SBDI is a four-year, $30 million initiative that was announced by President Clinton in 1995. SBDI is designed to help Albania, Bulgaria and Macedonia further develop and integrate their transportation infrastructure along the east-west corridor that connects them. TDA is responsible for implementing the initiative.

Albanian Deputy Minister of Transport Ahmet Ceni identified the development of the Corridor VIII ports at Durres and Vlora as a national transportation priority. Durres is the larger of the two, handling about 85% of the international maritime traffic, and is a critical link between the Mediterranean and the Balkan region. Vlora is a smaller port, and the poor condition of its facilities restricts it to handling general cargo traffic. Procurement of port-related equipment will help improve operations and increase the commercial viability of each port.

Since its inception, the SBDI program has provided Albania nearly $10 million in transportation-related procurement, feasibility study and technical assistance projects aimed at increasing the commercial viability of East-West Corridor VIII. In addition to the port-related equipment, SBDI-funded assistance has included the procurement of a tamping machine ($850,000), rail signaling system ($1.6 million), rail communications equipment ($1.6 million) and road and rail maintenance equipment ($2.3 million). Technical and financial support has included studies on the development of an intermodal container terminal at the Port of Durres and technical assistance for Albania's emergency road repair project.

Regional initiatives have included the procurement of traffic counting equipment ($1 million) and a mobile highway laboratory ($1 million), as well as the development of a feasibility study on the commercial viability of East-West Corridor VIII itself.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency, an agency of the U.S. Government, helps form mutually beneficial partnerships between U.S. private sector companies and overseas project sponsors. Last year, TDA provided assistance in 67 nations around the world.

 

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