Bloomfield Centre Manager, Jamie Bill presents Indrit Putesci, Centre Manager of the Flagship Center, Durres, Albania with a plaque on behalf of the Northern Ireland Region of Shopping Centres.

Jamie provided advice and encouragement to Indrit as he oversaw the development and opening of the newest (and only second) shopping centre in Durres, Albania’s second city and main port. The pair have been in correspondence since the summer of 2007 after being introduced by Ken O’Neil, chair of the Faculty of Small Business and Entrepreneurship at The University of Ulster.
Their working relationship and friendship culminated in Jamie visiting Durres in March 2008 to participate in the Flagship Centre opening celebrations.

In his speech on opening night Jamie commended the Albanian national government for its support of such important developments, local government for the assistance it had given the developer, the developer for his vision and Indrit for his tenacity, dedication and thoroughness which had resulted in the NIRSC executive committee agreeing to Flagship Centre, Durres being made the first honorary member of the NIRSC.

The event was headline news all over Albania with extensive press, TV and radio coverage.