Albania courts Italian industry with low taxes
Albania courts Italian industry with low taxes Benet Koleka TIRANA, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Some 200 Italian companies exploring deals in infrastructure, energy, and agriculture in Albania were told on Monday their poor neighbour offered lower taxes and less red tape than at home. Italy is Albania’s biggest trade partner and investor, but its businesses have missed out on the big privatisation deals across the Adriatic Sea, and its industrial presence is small. Italian businesses have invested over 3.5 billion euros, but its biggest internationally-renowned companies have preferred other Balkan countries because of a number of factors including corruption, unclear property titles and perceptions that the judiciary is inefficient, Italy’s ambassador said on Saturday. Eager to widen the scope of Italian brands beyond furniture, fashion and food, Ivan Scalfarotto, Italy’s…
