Integrated Cross-Sectorial Plan of Tirana-Durres Area

4.1 Economic development policies
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICIES
Developing service
economy
Regional knowledge
and innovation network
Developing SMEs
and entrepreneurship
Regional branding and tourism
Territorial economic development
Regional incubators
and clusters
Figure 4.1 Economic development policies
Developing regional economy
The harmonization and merging of
development factors that make up the
strategic objectives will set the foundations
for the development of the regional economy,
focusing on increasing the export network in
products and services. Therefore, the basic
framework to detach from the raw materials
economy dependency is created and also
the conditions to make efficient and develop
the “Service Economy”, based on ideas,
specialized employment and innovation,
or otherwise known as “Knowledge and
Innovation Economy”. 15
The “Knowledge and Innovation” economy is
at the same time a green and environmental
friendly economy and faced with the
challenges of climate change, it will create
the conditions for a transition from the carbon
economy to the development and use of clean,
non-polluting industrial processes, generating
at the same time opportunities for investment
and specialized employment. 16
As above-mentioned, the aim is to combine
the successful elements of the regional
enterprise’s economy with innovation and the
economy of ideas developed by educational
institutions. Meanwhile, a quality natural and
urban physical environment will be promoted,
thus generating opportunities for developing
and providing clean energies for businesses
and residents of this area.
The key component of this approach is to
build a regional innovation network based on
human capital, knowledge and creativity. These
elements, supported by clear development
frameworks and dedicated investment or
grants, will serve as key factors to produce
added value in the region’s enterprise
economy.
The aim is to turn the region into a creative
Balkan and Mediterranean hub that draws
FDIs and international offices focusing on
R & D (Research and Development).
Such sustainable development approach unites
and promotes the focal points of the economy
by creating new opportunities for efficient use
of resources, allowing us to develop an exportdriven
economy and focused on global services
and innovation.
The development of these factors is
interconnected in several pillars, and each of
them is reflected as follows:
1. Municipalities of the metropolitan
region need to develop an approach to
15
https://www.oecd.org/sti/sci-tech/1913021.pdf
16
http://www.oecd.org/sti/inno/smartspecialisation.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/presenta/smart_specialisation/smart_ris3_2012.pdf
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