The British Chamber of Commerce concluded the “Invest in North” Job, Education, and Career Consultation Fair, which attracted more than 700 participants from various cities in northern Albania and Tirana. The main objective of this event was to connect together private sector companies, universities and professional schools, which could offer education and career opportunities to the participants of cities of the North like Kukes and Dibra.
The fair commenced with the opening remarks by H.E HMA Alastair King-Smith, followed by speeches from H.E Mr. Blendi Gonxhe, Minister of Economy, Culture, and Innovation, and Mr. Arbjan Mazniku, Minister of State for Local Government. Throughout the day, three significant panel discussions took place, featuring esteemed guests who shared their insights and experiences on enhancing the economy and opportunities in the North of Albania for the future.
Mr. Andi Nuredini is an entrepreneur that have been operating in different business areas since 2002. He is co-founder and Administrator of British School of Tirana, an independent international school in Albania, implementing the British curriculum and promoting British values in Albania. He studied at the Faculty of Economy in the Agricultural University of Tirana and later had a Master Degree on Finance/Accounting at Marin Barleti University in Tirana.
British School of Tirana started in 2016 as an Early Years setting and developed quickly to a Primary, Secondary and A-Level school, promoting British education and culture in Albania. As an international school, British School of Tirana is licensed from the Council of Ministers of the Government of Albania through a very strict and long procedure that was finalized with the decision Nr. 484, dt. 31.07.2018. British School of Tirana is a Compliance Member of COBIS - Council of British International Schools, joining a global network of over 290 British international schools in 80 countries worldwide.
Alastair King-Smith is British Ambassador to Albania. He took up his posting in August 2021, after a year’s language training in Albanian. He has been a diplomat since 1996. Alastair previously served in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in London as Deputy Director, including as: Head of International Engagement in the UK’s cross-government Taskforce on Coronavirus (2020); Co-ordinator for the Global Campaign for Media Freedom and co-chair of the Media Freedom Coalition, which he set up to champion media freedom globally, as well as on UN elections (2019 to 2020); Head of International Counter Extremism and co-chair of the working group of the Global Counter Terrorism Forum on countering violent extremism (2015 to 2018); Head of Strategic Campaigns and Planning (2013 to 2015), overseeing the UK’s communication campaigns on foreign policy issues, including the counter-Daesh Coalition’s strategic communications efforts. Alastair’s postings overseas have been primarily in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, including short tours as Deputy High Commissioner to Nairobi over the Kenyan elections in 2013, as Deputy Ambassador to Tel Aviv in 2012 working on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as in Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan, Libya and Egypt, where he studied Arabic. As Head of Near East Group, he was responsible for the UK’s policy towards the Middle East Peace Process and for relations with Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and Palestine. Alastair helped establish the UK Government’s Stabilisation Unit to assist countries affected by conflict. He is a founding Trustee of the charity Kids for Kids, helping children in rural areas of Darfur, and a Trustee of the Next Century Foundation, promoting dialogue for peace. Alastair holds an MA Hons degree in Classics from Cambridge University, Trinity College. He speaks Albanian, Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese and French.
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The Ambassador represents His Majesty The King and the UK government in the country to which they are appointed. They are responsible for the direction and work of the embassy and its consulates, including political work, trade and investment, press and cultural relations, and visa and consular services.
Dr. Klodian Allajbeu MD, is a Founding Member and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the British Chamber of Commerce in Albania (2023). In addition Dr. Allajbeu is:
Dr. Allajbeu was decorated with the title of "Honorary Citizen of Berat" in 2014, awarded for the help given to the community and his philanthropic activities. A year later, he was decorated by the President of the Republic of Albania for "valuable contribution to the development of Albanian health sector".
Mrs. Jonida Lakuriqi is the Director of Legal, Public Policies & External Affairs at Vodafone Albania, where she is also a member of the Executive Committee. Jonida has 21 years of experience as a seasoned professional and successful corporate leader with broad experience in the areas of legal and business consulting, building stakeholder relationships and management for major businesses operating in Albania. For over 10 years she has worked as counsellor in top legal, financial advisory and consulting services, or in-house C-suit in the telecommunications, banking, and financial industries, driving best practice and leading organizational transformation. Her remit in Vodafone Albania comprises a broad range of areas, including legal, regulatory, corporate affairs, business development and corporate information security. She leads the designation and delivery of Vodafone’s strategy in Public Policy & External affairs, and corporate advancing of digitalisation agenda in public services.
Jonida is a strong believer in the power of business to drive positive and sustainable change, including the narrowing of the digital gap in society through digital education, and transition to sustainable green economy and public policies for fostering women empowerment in the workplace.
Before joining Vodafone, Jonida has held several top management roles in the banking industry as a General Counsel & Corporate Governance Director at National Bank of Greece Albania and partner in top law firms. Prior she successfully managed the Legal & Tax Services at Ernst & Young for Albania and Kosovo. Jonida is Chairwoman of Vodafone Albania Foundation, Board member and Deputy Chairwoman of the British Chamber of Commerce in Albania (BCCA), Advisory Board Member of Woman on Board Albania (WOB-Albania). Jonida has graduated from Law school at the University of Tirana and holds a master’s degree (LLM) in International and European Business Law.
Mr. Gentjan Sula is a Board Member of the BCCA and also the CEO of AGI KONS Shpk. Founded in 1996, AGIKONS SH.P.K. is a construction and Real Estate developer company that has a strong reputation for building and developing luxury residential, commercial, and services projects, as well as delivering high-quality construction services, on time and at a competitive price. Mr. Sula is also the Honorary Consul of Malaysia in Albania since 2018.
Mr. Nexhmedin Krasniqi is a BCCA Board Member and the Head of Country & Senior Representative of BP- British Petroleum in Albania (Air BP in Albania). Air BP is an international aviation fuel supplier which has marked thirty years of business in Albania. Mr. Krasniqi has been working over 24 years with Air BP and has graduated from AAB University for Business and Administrative Studies. He speaks fluent Albanian, Serbo-Croatian, English and Italian.
Mr. Aldi Molloholli was born in Elbasan, Albania on November 2nd, 1976; married and father of a son. Mr. Molloholli graduated from the Tirana Academy of Arts, Faculty of music (1999); Faculty of Human Sciences at the “Aleksander Xhuvani” University in Elbasan (2000); Master of Science Degree in Law (2010) licensed as Lawyer in 2014. Mr. Molloholli is an entrepreneur involved in various business sectors and international companies such as: General Manager of IABS Ltd (2001-2005); General Manager of ICTS Albania Ltd (2005-2012); Shareholder & General Manager of ICTS Albania Integrated Services Ltd (2009-2013); Founder & Managing Director of 4S Ltd (since 2013); Shareholder of Avantive Management Ltd and Sectron Shpk (since 2023). Mr. Aldi Molloholli is currently the Executive Director and Founding Board Member of BCCA - Chamber of Commerce of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Albania founded on October 2023. Besides his mother tongue Albanian, he is fluent in English and Italian.
Mrs Flonia Tashko-Boriçi establishing partner and founder of Zaka Kosta & Tashko, graduated from the University of Geneva, School of Law in 1996. She then earned a Master of Laws Degree in Commercial and Labor Law in 1999. Mrs Tashko is the co-author of Albania’s Commentary on the Labor Code and has been a Lecturer at the Albanian School of Magistrates.
She has been a Country Manager for the Corporate Governance Project of the International Finance Corporation / World Bank Group. Currently acting as the confident counsel of Swiss Embassy in Tirana. Specialized in M&A, Energy, Telecommunication, Mrs Tashko has lead a considerable number of key projects on behalf of the law firm. Mrs Tashko is a certified arbitrator of Albanian Mediation and Arbitration Centre, since 2007.