In the frame of the project ECSYT – Enhancing Cooperation and Synergies of Transport in the Southern Adriatic Ports, a workshop took place in Albania on 24 November 2021 at Regina City Hotel in Vlora, entitled “Enhancing Cooperation and Synergies of Transport in the Southern Adriatic Ports”. The workshop started at 10:00 and it was concluded with the last Q&A session at 16:00.
The objective of the project ECSYT is to create a more efficient management of transport connections in order to optimize actions of economic transport operators in the southern Adriatic ports, from a logistical, operational, administrative point of view.
The project aims to ensure greater sustainability in the connections between South Adriatic ports and to create a network for the exhange of experiences between the stakeholders in the logistics and transport sector. Leader Partner of the ECSYT Project is CNA, an italian association that represents and protects the fundamental part of the local economy, which includes craft micro-enterprises & small and medium-sized enterprises. Also, CEDIR, non-profit organization is the Albanian Partner of the project which organized the two days incoming event in Albania.
The workshop included partners from Italy and Montenegro, as well as public and private actors from Albania. Its main objective was to ensure a further development of the transport sector by building a better cross border connection, creating a network for the exchange of experiences.
The workshop brought together a panel of professionals in the transport sector who shared their expertise and vision for this sector. The event was attended by public actors, academics and representatives of private actors such as travel agencies and transport associations (10 private companies).
The workshop started with a general overview of the ECSYT Project and a presentation of the partners. The first session of the workshop was more technical, providing information about “Green Maritime Transport”. Both representatives from Italy and Montenegro, Mr. Angelo Colucci & Prof. Dr. Danilo Nikolic explained concepts such as green ports and eco-ports focusing also in the maritime transport sustainability. Also, in the frame of green maritime transport, Mr. Colucci explained maritime transport emissions and some interventions to limit them. In addition, the workshop continued with the presentation from Prof. as. Dr. Osman Metalla, Dean of the Profesional Studies in Albania who focused on operational management in the maritime sector as a process of great importance in increasing efficiency. The workshop continued with the representative from Institute of Transport in Albania, Prof. as. Dr. Shkelqim Gjevori who emphasized the need in increasing cooperation between stakeholders in the transport sector as the basis for drafting strategies and transportation policies between Adriatic ports.
During the second session, Dr. Ing. Eli Vyshka from the University Aleksander Moisiu Durres, introduced the role and the importance of the logistical organisation in the effectiveness of the transport in the southern Adriatic ports. Next, there was an online connection with Mrs. Inva Nela from Cooperation and Development Institute in Albania, who shared overall information and findings about SAGOV project “South Adriatic Connectivity Governance” as a project which illustrates the importance of the transport sector in the relations between the tree countries Italy, Albania and Montenegro. In the same perspective, there was Mrs. Pervin Pasholli from Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy in Albania who shared the findings of Inter-Connect Project in frame of intermodality.
The workshop continued with Mr. Eneida Elezi representing Albanian Raiways. She elaborated the topic on promoting tourism and rail transport in the intermodal transport network. The last presentation was made by the representative of Vlora Port, Mrs. Paulina Lekaj who provided information about the future of the port of Vlora.
Summarizing, the two-day events engaged more than 50 persons from the public and private sector beginning with two ports in Vlora and the port of Durres, three representatives from Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, prefect of Vlora and prefect of Durrës, director of Vlora Chamber of Commerce, 10 private companies, 2 Albanian NGO-s such as CDI Albania and CEDIR and aproximately 20 people indirectly beneficiaries. Regarding the communication strategy followed by the organizers, there was a press release and a reportage from One Tv and live streaming on social media. The main feedback carried out from the survey was the need and the importance of these experiences to exhange information and discuss about the actions to take in the future.
Watch the video of the event.