Formalizing the Agri Sector is the key to economic growth and investment as well as to new employment opportunities.  High production costs for farmers, traditionally resulted in lack of competitiveness and lack of growth. To address this, the Government of Albania has approved the reduction of fuel costs for farmers starting from January 2021.

In exchange, all farmers need to offer data on their land, products, and contracts. All farmers are invited to apply for this support till 25th of February, via e-albania.

This incentive was achieved thanks to many efforts of business associations like KASH, and other stakeholders such as BiznesAlbania, National Rural Entity, Albania Food Industry, Union of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Albania, Agricultural University of Tirana and Faculty of Economics, University of Tirana.

At Risi, we feel proud to have modestly contributed in supporting the associations to increase their capacities in developing their advocacy concept and disseminate it properly to policy makers.

This support was finalized with the preparation of the National Conference: “Towards the formalization of the Agribusiness Sector, for more economic growth, investment and employment”, held on December 2, 2015. The conference participants included  many important actors in the sector and the Minister of Agriculture of that time, Mr. Edmond Panariti.

The support from RisiAlbania had a special and important role in the successful organization of this conference since it:

  1. Contributed to the improvement of the concept of advocacy and to how to better present the issue, adding value to increasing the capacity of associations in this regard.
  2. Made possible the cooperation among KASH, other associations, independent experts and higher education institutions.
  3. Facilitated the participation of representatives of some public institutions such as those of the Albanian Parliament, the Government, line Ministries, and other donors, enabling to get acquainted with the proposals of the private sector and the request for price reduction of fuel.

Presentations and discussions at the conference clarified many of the issues and problems that hindered fuel price reduction. Such issues involved those of the fuel distribution schema, the necessary legal framework. It also emphasized the contribution to economic growth, investment and employment created by undertaking such a measure, etc.

“Risi assisted us in increasing our capacity in important advocacy issues for a more enabling business environment, which will undoubtedly contribute to the formalization of the economy, one of the key objectives of the Albanian government and business sector itself”– states Mr. Rrapaj, Chairman of KASH.

The advocacy campaign has been going on since 2015 to make this change happen.

Follow this link for more information on the schema.