Bari, September 14-22, 2019: Ms. Fabiola Ismaili, the IOM Diaspora Programme Fellow at Albanian General Consulate in Bari, participated in the International event ‘Fiera del Levante’ which was held in Bari, Italy on September 14-22, 2019 and presented the Programme 'Engage the Albanian Diaspora to the Social and Economic Development of Albania' implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Albania, the UN Agency on Migration.

‘Fiera del Levante’ was an opportunity for Albania  to present the touristic attraction and business opportunities investment in Albania  which was reflected  at the forum ‘Blue Economy in the Mediterranean’ focused on the new investment possibilities, where both Italian and Albanian government were represented in this event by a high-level delegation: Albanian Prime Minister, Mr. Edi Rama, President of Puglia Region, Mr. Michele Emiliano, Mayor of Bari, Mr. Antionio Decaro and General Consul of Albania in Bari, Mr. Adrian Haska.

In this occasion Albanian Prime Minister invited Italian businesses, including Albania Diaspora entrepreneurs in Italy, to consider Albania for their investments, affirming that Albania is a paradise for investment opportunities in tourism and other sectors.

Meanwhile, Ms. Ismaili had the opportunity to share information about IOM Diaspora Programme, which aims to brings the Albanian diaspora closer to their home country and make them proud of contributing to the social-economic development, to the numerous, well respected and active representatives from Albanian Diaspora who joined to the both fair and the forum.

The Programme 'Engage the Albanian Diaspora to the Social and Economic Development of Albania' is implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Albania, the UN Agency on Migration, with funding from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) in coordination with the State Minister for Diaspora, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Economy.

One of its key components is the fellowships scheme which make possible the engagement of Albanian high skilled diaspora members in Italy to support Albanian institutions there such as the Albanian Embassy in Rome and General Consulates in Milan and Bari. They are supporting the implementation of the IOM Diaspora Programme especially by establishing and maintaining regular communication with the network of Albanian associations in Italy, business associations, chambers of commerce and other relevant local and regional institutions in Italy, in the context of economic diplomacy and diaspora engagement, as well as by facilitating exchange of information and outreach as relevant.