TIRANA, April 15 – Municipalities must act as key drivers of economic development, not just service providers, Arbjan Mazniku said on Wednesday. He spoke at the conference “Implementation of the City Climate Contract” in Elbasan.
Mazniku, co-chair of the Special Parliament Committee on Territorial Reform, addressed the session on structuring investments for climate-neutral cities. He said the territorial reform launched a decade ago created a new framework for local governance. Through municipal consolidation, authorities expanded the role of local institutions.
As a result, municipalities now carry broader economic responsibilities. Mazniku said they must move beyond basic services such as road maintenance, cleaning, and waste management. Instead, they should actively stimulate local economies through infrastructure and targeted investment.
In this context, he stressed the need to identify key economic sectors within each city. He linked development directly to production, employment, and income generation. Moreover, he highlighted the importance of coordination between municipalities and other actors.
To illustrate this, Mazniku pointed to the former metallurgical complex in Elbasan. He described it as a concrete example of cooperation between central government, local authorities, and the private sector. He said companies operating in the area generate around 1.1 billion euros in annual turnover.
According to Mazniku, this model shows a shift toward active municipal involvement in economic growth. He added that all conditions exist to turn the area into a national success story. He stressed that sustained cooperation remains essential for long-term results.
The conference “Elbasan 2030” marked a step from strategic planning to implementation. Organisers focused on reducing emissions and promoting sustainable urban development.
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