This report covers the key macroeconomic and financial releases as well as the political events from Albania for the period of March 10, 2016 – April 11, 2016. INTERVIEW: Albanian president says politics needs to change to enable reforms China’s Geo-Jade Petroleum buys Albania-focused Bankers Petroleum Tirana court to rule on bankruptcy of top Balkan steel producer Kurum EBRD to provide €218mn loan to Albanian power producer KESH Albanian govt okays sale of state-owned insurer Insig to local peer Eurosig Petromanas closes sale of Albanian assets to Shell Albanian c-bank cuts key rate to record low of 1.5% World Bank cuts Albania’s GDP growth projections to 3.2% in 2016 IMF reaches staff-level agreement for completion of seventh review of Albania’s EFF arrangement Albanian police extends presence along Greek border for possible influx of migrants Key points: • Albania’s CPI inflation edges up to 0.3% y/y in March • Jan-Feb state budget revenues 1% above plan • Albania’s insurance market down 4.7% y/y in Jan-Feb • Albania’s net power generation up 24.1% y/y in 2015 • Commercial bank loan portfolio down 2.2% y/y at end-February • Growth of Albania’s gross external debt accelerates to 10.1% y/y at end Q4 • Albania’s 2-month trade gap widens 11.8% y/y