Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to strengthen trading relations between the UK and (a) Albania and (b) Montenegro.

a) With regard to Albania, our positive bilateral relations means the UK is seen by Albania as partner of choice across a number of reform areas, which frequently results in commercial contracts for UK businesses. Crown Agents' contract to reform the customs administration is a good example of this. More broadly, our Embassy advises and assists UK businesses who are interested in investing or operating in Albania, and is active in promoting opportunities.

For example, our Embassy has provided advice to British companies in the telecommunications, oil and gas, mining, pipeline, flight training, pharmaceutical, travel, engineering, and consultancy sectors. In addition our Embassy maintains good relationships with local foreign investor associations to whom referrals for advice are made.

b) The Foreign and Commonweath Office (FCO) is active in promoting the UK's trading relationship with Montenegro through FCO-funded projects that help create an environment in which strong economic relations can thrive. These include projects aimed at: strengthening Montenegro's rule of law framework; fighting corruption; tackling tax fraud; and increasing transparency. Additionally, our Embassy in Montenegro facilitates cooperation between UK businesses and their Montenegrin counterparts. A recent example of successful trade relations between businesses from the two countries is Porto Montenegro – a sea-front development in Tivat worth more than €180 million, in which more than 50 British companies were involved.