Today was the final day of a visit by Director General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Manuel Sager. Together with Prime Minister Edi Rama and Minister of Social Welfare and Youth Olta Xhaçka Mr. Sager opened the National Skills Fair. “As a Swiss I strongly believe in vocational education and training. Two third of our youth attend vocational schools and one third follows tertiary or university education”, said Mr. Sager in his speech. This was the second edition of the National Skills Fair - an annual event promoting vocational education that got its inspiration from Switzerland.
On Wednesday Mr. Sager met with Prime Minister Edi Rama and discussed Swiss support to Albania’s reforms and the commitment needed from the government. In particular they talked about vocational education and twinning of Albanian schools with Swiss ones in order to imprint some Swiss quality on vocational schools in Albania. Prime Minister Rama also pointed at the need to foster citizen-centric governance at all levels and reforming the health sector.
The Swiss delegation met also with Minister of Economy, Tourism, Trade and Entrepreneurship, Milva Ekonomi to learn more about government priorities and potential areas of cooperation.
On Wednesday afternoon the Swiss delegation met with the Mayor of Durrës Vangjush Dako and inaugurated a renovated bridge connecting the villages of Jubë and Rrushkull. A 500 meter access road was paved between Rrushkull centre and the bridge.
“Switzerland has been a reliable partner for Albania especially in local governance which is closer to the people. This investment came after we proposed to citizens in these two villages a few options and they chose the bridge as very necessary for them. A bridge symbolizes friendship and partnership between Albania and Switzerland”, said Director General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Manuel Sager.
The government of Albania receives Swiss support in vocational education, energy and decentralisation. This was the first visit by a SDC Director in Albania in over 10 years and came at a time when a cooperation strategy for 2018-2021 is in the making. Switzerland plans to commit development funds of up to 100 million CHF for this period.
