H.E. Mr. Selim Belortaja

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Albania in the People's Republic of China (resident). 

Nonresident in the Republic of Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Mongolian People's Republic, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the People's Republic of Bangladesh.  

Field of Expertise: 

Economist, PhD in Economics.   Expert in International Trade, Foreign Investments,  Public Policies, Economic Policies, etc. Executive skills in managing public agencies/enterprises and non-government sector organizations.

Work experience:

February 2015- February 2017: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs 

October 2013 – February 2015: General Director of Durres Port Authority

2009 - 2013: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. 

2002-2009 leading the Albanian Center for International trade – an USAID sponsored think-tank.

1999-2002 –Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister. 

Member of Albanian Parliament 1996-97.  

Member of two consecutive governments, as Minister of Industry and Trade (1993-1994), and as Secretary of State for Foreign Economic Relations (1994-1997), also head of the first Albanian team for the negotiation of the SAA with the EU (1996).

1992:  after more than a decade as lecturer at the Tirana University, Mr. Belortaja was appointed Director of the newly established Albanian Agency for the Promotion of Foreign Investments. 

Key positions in several governments of the transition, such as advisor to the President of the Republic, advisor to the Prime Minister, etc. 

Author of studies, and numerous articles about trade and economic policies.

Education:

Mr. Belortaja was graduated  as economist for the industrial sector in 1979. While teaching as a young professor in the University, in 1983 he also completed a 2-year post-graduation course on Foreign Trade theory and practice (Post Graduate Diploma).

In 1992 obtains the diploma “Candidat of Sciences” later on (1993) converted to the title of PhD in Economis Sciences.

November 1989-January 1991:  an academic qualification stage at the University of Passau (former West Germany). 

A three-month internship at the University of Siegen  (Germany).

An Intensive Course on Trade Policies, at the Kennedy School of Government - Harvard University (USA),

A British Council’s course on creative industries (West Sussex, London), etc.

Foreign languages: 

With Albanian as mother tongue, Mr. Belortaja speaks fluently English and German. He also has a good communication level in French and Italian.  

Awards, qualifications and honors:

PhD in Economics. International certificates of several short-term qualification courses.

Chairman andor member of several managing boards andor councils (OSFA, European Movement, Business Advisory Council, ACIT, etc)