TIRANA, August 3 – Albanian exporters have asked for the help of international financial institutions to ease the damage caused by the devaluation of the euro in this Western Balkan country.
Associations of exporters request the expertise of the International Monetary Fund, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the World Bank, the Ministry of Finance and Economy as well as the Bank of Albania through a letter quoted by Klan TV on Thursday.
“We consider that it would be very valuable to join forces with your experts for the promotion and facilitation of export policies, which include fiscal and monetary policies, but also the importance of reducing costs and fiscal burdens,” the letter said.
Exporters estimate that the strengthening of the national currency does not come only as a result of formal influences on the economy. Therefore they require intervention.
“The large and temporary fluctuations that seriously damage exporters and tourism seem to be influenced by informal or criminal money in the Albanian economy, mainly in real estate and profitable businesses,” the letter said.
The euro has recently undergone a series of fluctuations. It was exchanged with 104.70 Lek on Thursday according to the official exchange rate of the Bank of Albania. In the meantime it was bought for 103.8 lek at the currency exchange points.
The Bank of Albania said on Wednesday that if the euro continues to fall, it will intervene in the market by withdrawing more Euros than usual. /argumentum.al
