Foreign Direct Investment Reaches €404 Million in First Quarter
Foreign direct investment in Albania reached €404 million in the first quarter of 2026. The figure marks an 11.6% increase compared with the same period last year. According to the Bank of Albania balance of payments report, real estate remained the leading destination for foreign investment. The sector attracted €174 …
Begaj in Sofia: Regional Cooperation Key to Europe’s Shared Future
President Bajram Begaj attended the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Summit in Sofia on Tuesday. The summit marked the 30th anniversary of SEECP. Leaders gathered to discuss regional unity, security, and sustainable development. During the meeting, Begaj emphasized the importance of EU integration for the Western Balkans. He also called …
Rama: Albania Must Stay Open to Large Foreign Investments
Prime Minister Edi Rama reacted on social media about foreign investments and tourism development. He shared a Greek media article. The article reported new luxury hotel investments in Mykonos by major international brands. First, Rama linked the topic to ongoing debates in Albania over large-scale investments, including the project in …
AIDA Launches “Aftercare” Meetings Campaign
The Albanian Investment Development Agency (AIDA) launched today its “Aftercare” meetings campaign in Tirana. The initiative follows up on foreign investors and improves their experience in Albania. First, AIDA set the goal of the campaign. It aims to monitor existing foreign investments. It also aims to identify investor needs and …
INSTAT: Managers Remain the Highest-Paid Professionals, Earning Over 122,000 Lek per Month
Managers and executives of institutions and businesses continue to top the list of the highest-paid professions in Albania. Data published by INSTAT in its report “Wage Statistics, First Quarter 2026” show that income disparities remain significant between highly qualified professions and jobs requiring basic skills. According to the data, managers …
Unemployment Rises Again at the Start of the Year as Employment and Economic Activity Decline
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:e5f3a318-6513-4bde-9f7b-f91271dd3755-2″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:e5f3a318-6513-4bde-9f7b-f91271dd3755-2″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-6″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> Albania’s labor market showed signs of slowing down in the first quarter of 2026. Data published by INSTAT indicate that, compared to the end of 2025, unemployment increased, while employment and labor market participation declined. According to the Quarterly Labour …
PM Rama: Protests and Debates Risk the Investment Climate, Look at Greece
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-(–header-height)” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”f23059fa-d42e-42bc-aa77-a09f92c68c03″ data-turn-id-container=”f23059fa-d42e-42bc-aa77-a09f92c68c03″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-3″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”user”> Prime Minister Edi Rama reacted again this Wednesday on Facebook, emphasizing the need to remain open to foreign investment while comparing economic developments in Greece with the situation in Albania. He stated that the neighboring country continues to successfully attract …
U.S. State Department: Iran Behind Attacks on Jewish and American Interests in Europe
The U.S. Department of State has published a joint statement by the United States, the United Kingdom, Albania, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden regarding threatening activities by the Iranian state …
INSTAT: 18.1% of Women in Albania Have Experienced Stalking
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:e5f3a318-6513-4bde-9f7b-f91271dd3755-5″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:e5f3a318-6513-4bde-9f7b-f91271dd3755-5″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-12″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> The end of a relationship does not always come with mutual understanding. In many cases, it is followed by controlling, threatening, or stalking behavior that becomes a source of fear and insecurity for victims. According to INSTAT, around 18.1% of …
Durrës Sees Surge in Tourists, but Benefits for Local Businesses Remain Limited
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-(–header-height)” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”aa64064e-40d1-48a4-b0ec-77f5952fcf39″ data-turn-id-container=”aa64064e-40d1-48a4-b0ec-77f5952fcf39″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-13″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”user”> Durrës is experiencing another tourism season marked by a significant increase in visitor numbers. Tourists from Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, and France have chosen the Albanian coast for their holidays, but the majority of them are staying under all-inclusive …
Historical narratives, political systems, institutions and economies across the region are being put to the test as old problems collide with new pressures, our selection of Balkan Insight’s Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here
Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced a change at the helm of the Interior Ministry. Besfort Lamallari will leave the post and move to the Prime Minister’s Office, while Ervin Demo will take over the ministry. Rama announced the move while presenting changes to the government. He said Lamallari would …
The Ministry of Defense reported 40 wildfires across Albania in the past 24 hours. Six remain active, nine are under monitoring and 25 have been fully extinguished. A total of 492 local personnel and 36 firefighting vehicles are supporting operations. The Armed Forces have deployed 133 personnel, one helicopter, two …
Klodiana Spahiu has been sworn in as Minister of Health and Social Welfare at the Presidency. President Bajram Begaj appointed her following Prime Minister Edi Rama’s proposal, after Evis Sala resigned from the post. Spahiu is a cardiologist and holds a medical degree from the University of Tirana. She later …
An exhibition dedicated to one of Albania’s leading 20th-century artists, Ibrahim Kodra, will open in Tirana on September 23. “Ibrahim Kodra – The Sea and Music” will be held at the Bank of Albania and will remain open until November 23. The exhibition features 41 works created between 1947 and …
Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja announced the launch of a national campaign to register artisans across Albania. The campaign aims to identify, assess and promote traditional crafts and the people who preserve them. Gonxhja said the campaign would give greater visibility to artisans and their work. It will …
Economy and Innovation Minister Delina Ibrahimaj has announced a new National Housing Fund to support not only vulnerable groups, but also professionals, young people and newly formed families. Speaking after a government meeting, Ibrahimaj said the programme will make 7,000 apartments available. Around 2,000 will be offered through interest-free loans …
The Governor of the Bank of Albania, Gent Sejko, met with UNDP Resident Representative Randi Davis to discuss cooperation in green finance, financial and digital education, payment systems, and support for SMEs. The meeting focused on Albania’s latest economic and financial developments and the Bank’s ongoing initiatives. Davis praised the …
Albania is increasingly attracting visitors through its natural heritage, with protected areas becoming key destinations for tourists. Diverse landscapes, rich biodiversity and outdoor activities are drawing more visitors and adding a new dimension to the country’s tourism offer. Environment Minister Sofjan Jaupaj said more than 4.5 million visitors explored Albania’s …
General jurisdiction prosecutors from Tirana, Elbasan, Durrës, Gjirokastër, Sarandë, Kukës, Korçë, Berat, Fier, Vlora, Dibër, Lezhë and Shkodër took part in a training session on prosecutorial ethics and professional dilemmas. The Dutch Embassy in Albania said the training was led by Dutch prosecutor Disa Jironet. It focused on complex cases, …