TIRANA (Albania), March 20 (SeeNews) – Albania’s prime minister Edi Rama said the government has prepared a $370 million (342.7 million euro) relief package to support the coronavirus-affected sectors of the economy, boost health expenditures as well as help people in need.
The government has decided to support large enterprises with a $100 million aid package, while $65 million will go to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Rama said in a statement late on Thursday.
Under the package, $25 million will be used to support the health ministry with deliveries of medical equipment and materials, $20 million will be allocated to the defence ministry for humanitarian operations, while $10 million will be added to the government reserve funds for any emergency.
Rama also said the government has decided to scrap all interest levied on past-due electricity bills currently amounting to $150 million, for businesses and individuals affected by the spread of the virus.
The deadline for payment of profit tax by businesses with annual turnover of $20,000 to $140,000 will be postponed to the second half of the year.
The prime minister said that there will be no salary cuts in public administration, except for the council of ministers and members of parliament who will receive half of their salaries.
Albania confirmed five new cases of the coronavirus disease on Thursday, bringing the total number to 64, the health ministry said.
($ = 0.92630 euro)