Speech for USAID Director Edward T. Landau
Launching of the Local Governance Program in Albania (LGPA)
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
On behalf of USAID, I would like to welcome the honorable mayors of 10 municipalities, distinguished Members of Parliament, honorable Deputy Ministers, and business leaders representing districts that USAID will cooperate with under our new local governance project.
In a few minutes, these mayors will sign agreements that express their commitment to work with USAID over the next four years to create more prosperous and better governed cities.
This project offers new and innovative techniques for cities to attract direct private investment, pay for large-scale public infrastructure projects, and improve the quality of the municipal services delivered.
From the small, southern coastal city of Himara to Kukes in Albania’s northern highlands, USAID has chosen to assist a range of communities in terms of location and population to demonstrate innovations that can be undertaken by every city and community in Albania. We look forward to seeing more cities adopt these measures.
As many of you know, USAID has been a long-term partner in Albania, supporting your efforts to create a dynamic market economy and stable democracy based on the rule of law. We have already undertaken sustained assistance to spur decentralization and strengthen municipalities.
Fifteen years into this process, cities have garnered real authority. However, more work remains to obtain more resources and administer them with effectiveness, efficiency, and transparency.
A potential source of financing will come from the local borrowing law now under Parliamentary review. I wish to thank Deputy Minister Poni and the Ministry for the work on this legislation. When this law is enacted, cities will be able to diversify and expand their financial resources for immediate use to upgrade infrastructure and provide quality services in their communities, and monitor and account for them so that loans can be repaid. I would urge the Members present here to push for enactment of this law as soon as possible.
USAID will also tap another important resource during this project. We will engage local businesses, private sector associations, not-for profit organizations, and citizens to be involved in planning and implementing projects that matter to them. These public-private partnerships will foster a dialogue that will ensure that these and future projects are business friendly, transparent, and sustainable, creating new jobs and new sources of income.
In the coming years, with the right investments, leadership, and vision, Fier, Fushe Kruja, Gramsh, Himara, Korça, Kukes, Lezhe, Librazhd, Pogradec, and Shkodra will be showcased as some of the best managed cities with growing and dynamic economies.
The future is yours to create and on behalf of USAID, I congratulate your participation in this joint venture and wish you all success over the next four years.
The U.S. Government and the American people will continue to support your efforts as you strive to improve the lives of the people in your municipalities.
