Albanian economic growth was at 4.06% (or 15.1 billion ALL) during the second quarter of 2017 based on data published by the official state statistical office. The growth is due largely to the impact of the construction sector which has accounted alone to 47% (7.079 billion ALL) to the national gross added value for the given period. Even though construction represents a high share of the 2nd quarter 2017 GDP growth, it has increased by 22% if compared to the 2nd quarter of 2016. Agriculture, albeit accounting close to 20% of the GDP and 38% of the working force, has contributed to this increase with a mere 0.7% (113 million ALL).
Such an increase of the construction sector (i.e. financial investments in real estates) reflects high structural deficiencies of the national economy having in mind that exports have increased with only +0.1% and imports with +6.3% in 2016 if compared with 2015. Trade imbalance has also increased with +11.3% while remaining extremely high at 335bl ALL.
On an economic logic, such cash-flow in the national economy and particularly in the construction sector at a moment that there is no export/production increase can be justified only through the increase of underground economic activities. It confirms Albanian opposition statements that the cannabis boom production during 2015/16 is now being reflected in the real economy via unjustifiable multiplication of construction investments.
