Prime Minister Edi Rama highlighted new steps to strengthen Albania’s ties with its diaspora during a meeting with the Albanian community in Michigan. He also announced that Albania will soon open a consulate in Detroit.
Rama recalled that Albanians living abroad voted in Albania’s parliamentary elections for the first time last year. He said the vote created a new link between Albanians abroad and the country’s political institutions.
“Last year, for the first time, you had the opportunity to vote from here, from outside the homeland, in Albania’s parliamentary elections. It was the first time that ballot papers crossed the ocean and that the contract between Albanians and their representatives extended beyond Albania’s borders,” Rama said.
Meanwhile, Rama said the government has started implementing the National Diaspora Strategy 2030. The process followed the Fourth Diaspora Summit, which took place in April.
He said the strategy will strengthen practical links between Albanians abroad and Albania. It will also help the diaspora engage more directly with the country.
“We have started implementing the National Diaspora Strategy 2030. It is now outlined, and we only need to put it into practice step by step. This will help the diaspora feel closer to Albania, not only emotionally but also in concrete ways,” Rama said.
Rama also called for stronger communication between Albania and its diaspora. He said Albania needs more knowledge about Albanians living abroad. At the same time, he said the diaspora needs easier access to Albania.
To address these needs, the government is creating a National Diaspora Register. Rama described it as a single portal that will connect Albanians around the world with the Albanian state.
“We are creating the National Diaspora Register, a unique portal where every Albanian around the world can find their state with one click. It will include professional networks and dedicated spaces for diaspora investors,” Rama said.
Rama acknowledged that these projects will take time. He compared their development with Albania’s broader transformation.
“Albania itself is a construction site in transformation. Every construction site has dust and noise. Sometimes the noise becomes deafening. It also has delays and mistakes that need correction,” Rama said.
However, he said the work continues. He added that Albania has already built stronger foundations for further development.
“What matters is that the construction site remains active, the work continues, and the foundations are now strong. Step by step, the structure of the new Albania is taking shape and gaining meaning,” Rama said.
Rama also described Albanians abroad as important observers of Albania’s transformation. He said their distance helps them notice changes when they return to the country.
“Albanians abroad are the most objective supervisors of the construction site. Distance allows them to see many things more clearly. When they return at different times, they can see the changes better because they do not experience the construction site every day, with all its dust, noise and problems. They see the result,” Rama said.
At the same meeting, Rama announced the upcoming opening of an Albanian consulate in Detroit. He said the government responded to repeated requests from the Albanian community in Michigan.
“I want to give you some good news today. I have repeatedly heard this request from the community, and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs will soon open the Albanian consulate in Detroit,” Rama said.
The new consulate will bring Albanian consular services closer to the community. It will also give Albanians in Michigan a local point of contact for consular matters.
“Albania should be close to you whenever you need it. At a minimum, Albania should have a door here where you can knock for all your consular needs,” Rama said.
The Detroit consulate will add a new institutional link between Albania and the Albanian community in Michigan. Meanwhile, the National Diaspora Strategy 2030 and the National Diaspora Register will create additional channels for cooperation, public services and engagement with Albanians abroad.
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