TIRANA (Albania), April 26 (SeeNews) – The World Bank said it approved a $50 million (41 million euro) regional and local roads connectivity project aiming to back tourism and agriculture development in Albania.
“The project supports improved access to several agricultural and tourism centers in Albania, and strengthened capacities of municipalities to manage their road assets,” the World Bank said in a statement on Wednesday following a meeting of its board of executive directors.
The bank noted that the existing condition of about half of regional and local roads in Albania does not adequately support access to essential public services, as well as to economic activities, and hinders the development of the emerging tourism industry and of the agricultural sector.
“Better road connectivity is critical for the development of the country,” the World Bank said.
"The new project will focus on prioritization of interventions with higher economic impact that complement productive sectors, particularly in agriculture and tourism," Maryam Salim, World Bank Country Manager for Albania said. "Tourism development will benefit by improving road access to existing and potential tourism destinations. The project also helps the integration of agricultural producers into agri-food value."
The project will finance the rehabilitation of about 55 km of regional and local roads, bringing better and safer connectivity to areas that are home to around 80,000 inhabitants.
In its first year, the programme includes three roads known for their importance for tourism and/or agriculture development such as Fier-Seman, Pogradec-Tushemisht, and Qafe Thore-Theth, which have been selected based on a multicriteria analysis.
The project will be implemented by the Albanian Development Fund (ADF), the World Bank said, adding that the rehabilitation of the roads will incorporate resilience to flooding and landslides.
“The project will also promote woman’s employment opportunity in road sector in Albania.”
According to the World Bank, the prioritization approach utilized by the project will also provide a policy and investment framework for the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of roads that can be used for future investments supported by domestic and international financing.
($ = 0.82003 euro)