The Third Corridor VIII LED Network's Annual Conference was Held in Durres, Albania, 11-13 November 2004

The Ministries of transportation of every country presented a progress report on the infrastructure building along the Corridor. The participants in the forum exchanged information on good practices in the field of local economic development and on the priorities underlying the Strategies for development of the municipalities, which are part of the Network.

Foundation for local government reform (FLGR) a founder and a member of the Network was presented at the Conference by Mrs. Antoaneta Mateeva. She presented to the audience the work of Bulgarian Local Economic Development Partnership.

At the Conference a decision was made to establish an Association, consisting of all the members of the Network. The participants elected a temporal Board of directors. From Bulgarian side members of the board are Sofia Municipality, FLAG and FLGR.

At the next meeting of the board will betaken a decision on establishing offices of the Association in every of the countries along the Corridor VIII.

The Corridor VIII LED Network is an alliance of local governments, local government associations and private sector organizations located on or near Trans European East West Transportation Corridor VIII, which will connect the Black and Adriatic Seas through Albania, Macedonia and Bulgaria. The Network is dedicated to applying the principles of participatory local economic development through public-private partnerships and cross-border cooperation. Its mission is to promote the continued long-term development and integration of the Southern Balkan Region.

http://www.corridor8led.net