38 Fig.16 Visi<strong>on</strong> map
39 3. Cross-sectoral Integrated Plan for the ec<strong>on</strong>omic area Tirane – Durres The <strong>Albania</strong>n Government and the <str<strong>on</strong>g>Nati<strong>on</strong>al</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Spatial</strong> Plan have identified the Tiranë- Durrës area, as <strong>on</strong>e of the most important ec<strong>on</strong>omic areas of the country, and of the Balkan regi<strong>on</strong>. To ensure a susta<strong>in</strong>able territorial and urban development of this area, the M<strong>in</strong>istry of Urban Development <strong>in</strong> cooperati<strong>on</strong> with the <str<strong>on</strong>g>Nati<strong>on</strong>al</str<strong>on</strong>g> Territorial <strong>Plann<strong>in</strong>g</strong> Agency has taken the <strong>in</strong>itiative to draft a Cross-sectoral Integrated Plan for the ec<strong>on</strong>omic area Tiranë – Durrës. The metropolitan regi<strong>on</strong> under study <strong>in</strong>cludes territories adm<strong>in</strong>istered by 5 municipalities: Tiranë, Durrës, Vorë, Shijak, Kamëz. In our visi<strong>on</strong>, this ec<strong>on</strong>omic z<strong>on</strong>e is seen as a significant hub of the Balkans, as a nati<strong>on</strong>al and regi<strong>on</strong>al ec<strong>on</strong>omic center, able to compete worthily <strong>in</strong> the Balkan area and <strong>in</strong> Eastern Europe, ensur<strong>in</strong>g susta<strong>in</strong>able development for the people and the territory. The plan will serve as a guide for the new municipalities to coord<strong>in</strong>ate policies, projects and their local plans, between each other as well as for vertical coord<strong>in</strong>ati<strong>on</strong> and rec<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong>. This plan should be used by them <strong>in</strong> the process of draft<strong>in</strong>g local general plans and strategic projects <strong>in</strong> order to be more efficient <strong>in</strong> public and private <strong>in</strong>vestments. F<strong>in</strong>ally, it also serves as a guarantee for foreign <strong>in</strong>vestors and bus<strong>in</strong>esses, who are <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> the further development of this ec<strong>on</strong>omic area. 3.1 Goals ʧ Return to a susta<strong>in</strong>able model for regi<strong>on</strong>al development. ʧ Help meet the aspirati<strong>on</strong>s and achievements of future generati<strong>on</strong>s, youth, and families. ʧ C<strong>on</strong>solidate and regenerate urban and rural areas. ʧ Strengthen and promote regi<strong>on</strong>al ec<strong>on</strong>omic networks. ʧ Develop <strong>in</strong>frastructure and promote regi<strong>on</strong>al susta<strong>in</strong>able mobility. 3.2 Visi<strong>on</strong> The Tirane-Durres ec<strong>on</strong>omic regi<strong>on</strong>, a leader ec<strong>on</strong>omy compet<strong>in</strong>g at <strong>in</strong>ternati<strong>on</strong>al level, as an important ec<strong>on</strong>omic and political space, which manages to compete with other metropolitan regi<strong>on</strong>s by attract<strong>in</strong>g headquarters of programs and <strong>in</strong>ternati<strong>on</strong>al <strong>in</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>s based <strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong>novative <strong>in</strong>vestments, which promote creative bus<strong>in</strong>esses based <strong>on</strong> knowledge and promote a higher level of educati<strong>on</strong> and professi<strong>on</strong>al skills. A regi<strong>on</strong> with a high quality of life that promotes and respects the healthy liv<strong>in</strong>g styles, access to quality health services, and the development of susta<strong>in</strong>able communities. One of the most important ec<strong>on</strong>omic areas of the Western Balkans, of high prosperity and driven by significant changes <strong>in</strong> employment and competitive <strong>in</strong>frastructure, where mobility and access to local, nati<strong>on</strong>al, and <strong>in</strong>ternati<strong>on</strong>al levels are appropriate to the needs and demands of the residents and bus<strong>in</strong>esses,