Photo Credit: USAID/Albania   USAID provides training, mentoring, and technical assistance to current and future entrepreneurs, including in Albania’s large textile and garment industries.

Competitive Enterprise Development Program

Duration:       March 2009-March 2014

Partners:       Chemonics International

• Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports
• Ministry of Economy, Trade, and En-ergy
• Ministry of Innovation and ICT
• National Tourism Agency
• Albanian Tourism Association
• National Agency for Information Soci-ety
• Albanian IT Association
• Albanian Software Cluster
• Albanian Tour Operators Union
• National Chamber of Garment and Footwear Manufacturers
• Chamber of Fasson of Albania
• Chambers of Commerce and Industry, companies, donors and projects

Description:
Although Albania’s economy lags behind the rest of Europe and private sector competitiveness is constrained by a number of factors, future growth needs to be based on improved productivity and increased competitiveness within key sectors. USAID’s Competitive Enterprise Development Program (Rritje Albania) seeks to advance sustained, broad-based economic growth in Albania by expanding trade and investment, increasing enterprise productivity, and improving Albania’s workforce. Working at the macro and meso-level of industries, as well firm-level assistance in target sectors, the project assists non-agricultural enterprises to become more competitive, increase sales, and create new jobs. Project activities focus on five main industries: tourism, garment and footwear manufacturing, ICT and recycling.

Program Focus:

• Strengthen trade and investment capacity;
• Enhance private sector productivity;
• Improve workforce development.

Results to be achieved:

• Increased knowledge of market demand and what is needed to access it;
• Improved quality performance and compliance with international standards;
• Increased use of ICT for trade activities;
• Improved management practices;
• Reduced gap between workforce supply and demand and promoting competency-based training of employees

Results:

• Developed and launched the Authentic Albania Quality Mark program, issuing Gold, Silver or Bronze Awards to 20 Accommodations;
• Introduced new productivity management systems through 14 work-shops series to more than 70 garment and footwear companies as part of  the Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP) which trained over 250 people;
• Supported more than 20 garment and footwear companies to develop marketing materials, including logos, brochures, and websites.
  

Project Fact Sheet