BMI Research: Albania's Economic Growth at 4%

TIRANA - BMI Research published Wednesday its risk report on Albania, where it has made positive projections for the country's economy. So, the agency in question, part of the international credit rating group FITCH, has confirmed that the Albanian economy will continue to benefit from a better external environment and "we have upgraded our growth projections for 2017".
On the other hand, the report cited the problem of drugs trafficking as a risk for the economy. It also referred to the allegations raised against a senior official of the ruling Socialist Party who is accused of being involved in narcotics trafficking, saying that such accuses show how difficult it will be for Albania to reform its justice system. The report said that if such allegations are proved as true then the majority would shrink and Premier would lose credibility. 
Meanwhile, according to this report, external factors will have a lower effect in 2018, monetary policies will continue to have a positive effect, while political risk after the June elections will decline and this will sustain investments and private consumption.
"Albania's long-term economic growth will be sustained by the pipeline investments. Inflationary environment will provide the authorities the necessary freedom to keep the monetary policy elastic, because we expect price increases to remain under the 3% target set by the Bank of Albania for the 18 months to come", the report in question said.
The report concludes that Albania's public debt was 72.4% of GDP in 2016, among the highest ones in the region. In the end, the report states that the Albanian economy will grow by 4% in 2018, while in 2018 it will slow down to 3.6%.