ACTIVITIES

6th December 2006 - First meeting of the Interagency Working Group took place in Tirana, Albania with the objective of starting the elaboration of the National Action Plan on Remittances.

31st January 2007 to 1st February 2007- A study visit took place at the Albanian Embassy and consulate in Athens, Greece, where the Albanian embassy as well as a consular office is located, with the aim of assessing the needs for skills and know-how of the diplomatic staff in this country in order to advise and provide information to Albanian migrants seeking to invest in Albania.
 
27th February 2007- The second plenary meeting of the Interagency Working Group took place in Tirana, Albania. During the meeting the first consolidated draft of the Action Plan on Remittances was discussed and recommendations for improvement provided.

1st to 3rd March 2007- A study visit took place at the Albanian consulate in Milan, Italy where the Albanian embassy as well as a consular office is located, with the aim of assessing the needs for skills and know how of the diplomatic staff in this country in order to advise and provide information to Albanian migrants seeking to invest in Albania.  

23 March 2007, 26 March 2007- The International Labour Organization (ILO) organized two local workshops on the productive use of remittance income generating activities in Vlora and Durres. During the workshops the ILO international consultant also presented the draft of the feasibility study for financial institutions in these two regions

8 May 2007 - A final plenary meeting of the Interagency Working Group (IWG) for the elaboration of the National Action Plan for Remittances will take place. This meeting intends also to define the responsible actors for the recommended actions in the framework of this draft Plan of Action

18 May 2007 – An awareness-raising activity attended by Albanian entrepreneurs and emigrants, was jointly organized by IOM, Albanian Consulate and Albanian migrant associations in Milan, Northern Italy. The activity was focused on best ways of channeling remittances, return and investments to Albania. An information kit with relevant information was distributed to participants.

5 June 2007 – Under the auspices of the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an awareness-raising activity on best ways of channeling remittances, return and investments to Albania was organized with Albanian migrants in Athens with the participation of the Albanian Ambassdor in Greece, Mr. Vili Minarolli. An information kit with relevant information was distributed to participants.

Tirana, 20 June 2007 - The Government of Albania, IOM, ILO, and other partners present the Draft National Action Plan on Remittances (NAP) during a conference on Migration, Remittances and Transition to Market Economy in Albania, organized with the participation of the Minister of Labor, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Mr. Koco Barka. The NAP comprises a set of measures to enhance the development impact of remittances in Albania by: expanding and improving remittance data collection practices, research, analysis, policies and procedures; promoting their formal transfer to Albania and their productive use towards local and national development.