TIRANA, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Albania and Turkey signed an agreement here Thursday to boost cooperation in civil aviation, Albanian authorities said.
Under the agreement, both sides confirmed their willingness to implement projects such as an airport in the southern Albanian city of Vlora and the joint airline "Air Albania."
Albania wanted to build up its technical capacity at institutional level through this agreement in order to successfully handle the increased aeronautical activities, it said in an official press release.
Cooperation between the two sides will have a particular focus on air traffic surveillance, airport surveillance and aviation security oversight, authorities said.
Albanian Civil Aviation Authority Executive Director Krislen Keri and Turkish civil aviation's Vice Director General, Haydar Balcin, voiced confidence that cooperation would bring positive results.
Keri said that the Albanian government considered aviation as a promising industry to promote tourism and economy.
For his part, Balcin said that Turkey is willing to share its expertise with Albania to meet the other side's technical needs.
Turkey will also provide training support in about 50 specialized institutions in the area of civil aviation, the two officials said.
The Albanian government has recently announced its decision to start building another airport in the coastal city of Vlora in June. A consortium of three Turkish companies had already submitted their offer for this project.
