Economic development

The goal is to improve Albania's framework conditions towards inclusive growth with increased employment opportunities particularly for the youth. Swiss interventions include the strengthening of Public Financial Management capacities and strengthening of the Bank of Albania’s research department for more effective monetary policy, better regulation and supervision of the financial sector and improved fiscal management, including tax transparency and simplification issues.

To boost the private sector and in particular youth employment, entrepreneurship programmes support business development services and innovative ideas. Corporate financial reporting is improved towards European standards, alternative debt resolution mechanisms are explored,  and access to finance is facilitated to enhance SME competitiveness. On the supply side, a special focus is given to upgrading youth skills, mediating demand and supply in the labour market and working with the private sector to adequately improve education and training for job seekers.

Unemployment and underemployment remain the most serious development problems facing partner countries of the SDC. Only if people have access to productive, reasonably paid employment that enables them to earn an income, can global poverty be sustainably reduced and the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) be achieved.

The SDC's worldwide engagement

Training in areas of financial reporting and auditing
© SECO

Here, support is given to lower the costs of doing business and reduce local barriers to investment (by way of adjusting property laws, simplify taxation, etc.) and to make it easier for businesses to access financing.

The SECO’s worldwide engagement