Integrated Cross-Sectorial Plan of Tirana-Durres Area

AN INTERACTIVE
SPACE
Concentration of
professionals and
specialized SMEs
High productivity,
research institutes
and universities
Regional economic
development
agencies and board
Entrepreneurship and
innovation
Advantage in regional
competitiveness
Figure 4.6 What is an economic cluster
EP4.2- Develop economic clusters
Regional enterprises (SMEs) mainly appear
to have a lack of critical mass in interaction,
lack of a climate of trust and cooperation, lack
of talents and regional knowledge, and lack
of cooperation with economic development
institutions.
Therefore, it is firstly aimed to develop a
climate of trust and then interaction among
actors to create high quality diversified
products and services. The linkage of all
interactive actors in the regional production
cycle will increase the possibility of
international competitiveness.
What are clusters and how do they operate?
Clusters appear as a geographical
concentration of companies and related
institutions in sectors and sub-branches
of mutually complementary industries,
encouraging exchanges and joint activities,
creating added value to products, services or
platforms, in trade and economy.
These bodies operate horizontally and
link local and regional actors, creating
conditions and supporting climate for the
economy. Clusters develop cooperation and
competitiveness of companies and accelerate
the spread of regional innovation.
In the global value chain, efficiency, speed,
adaptability, quality, innovation, network and
critical mass are the key elements of the
development and marketing of products and
services. Clusters enable the development of
these conditions and qualities with a goal and
under a common management. They facilitate
economic interaction with global corporations
and increase the prospect for success of
branded regional firms / brands. On the other
hand, their development will create increased
opportunities to brand the metropolitan
region and become a link to the global value
chain.
Building institutional structures for
developing a climate of cooperation between
business, academia, government institutions
and civil society is essential to the survival of
clusters in the global economy.
The plan supports the development of these
structures for interaction between actors and
introduces the framework of principles to be
based on:
• Developing towards common regional
objectives approaching to the service
economy and knowledge economy;
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