Gonxhja holds talks with World Bank Director on Sustainable Tourism Development
TIRANA, Nov 6 /ATA/ Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Blendi Gonxhja today held a meeting with Xiaoqing Yu, the World Bank’s Country Director for the Western Balkans, and other representatives of the institution. Gonxhja said the discussions focused on the progress of reforms and projects aimed at increasing tourism’s economic …
Albania and India explore new avenues for tourism cooperation
TIRANA, Nov 6 /ATA/ On the sidelines of the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2026 international tourism fair, National Tourism Agency Director-General Jola Hysaj held a meeting with India’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. The talks focused on strengthening tourism relations and cooperation between Albania and India through …
US ambassador Eric Wendt outlines priorities for Albania: defence, investment and security
United States Ambassador Eric Wendt has outlined his priorities in a video message posted on X. He identified defence, economic prosperity and security as the main areas for cooperation. He also thanked President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their trust, along with the Albanian people for …
Albania and Kosova hold joint mountain search and rescue exercise
Personnel from Albania’s Civil Emergencies Support Base and the Kosova Security Force held a joint mountain search and rescue exercise in Prevalla, near Prizren. According to Defence Minister Ermal Nufi, the exercise took place from 2 to 5 November. Participants exchanged experience, tested new equipment and practised rescue techniques in …
Gonxhja: ALL 2.08 BILLION LEK ALLOCATED TO CULTURAL HERITAGE AND MUSEUMS IN 2027
Albania will allocate 2.08 billion lek to the Cultural Heritage and Museums programme in 2027, marking an 80% increase compared with 2026, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja announced on Thursday. Presenting the draft budget to the Parliamentary Committee on Culture, Tourism and Diaspora, Gonxhja said the increased …
FM Hoxha and Romanian counterpart reaffirm support for Albania’s European integration
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha met Romania’s new Foreign Minister, Dan Neculaescu, in Bucharest to discuss bilateral ties and regional security. Both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to closer cooperation, with a particular focus on expanding economic and trade relations and making full use of their potential. Hoxha …
Albania and India seek closer tourism cooperation
Albania and India are exploring ways to strengthen tourism ties following a meeting at the World Travel Market London 2026. Jola Hysaj, director general of the National Tourism Agency, met India’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, during the international travel fair. The two officials discussed exchanging experience …
Albania Allocates ALL 3.37 Billion to Arts and Culture in 2027, with ALL 1.5 Billion for Investment
Albania’s Arts and Culture programme will receive a budget of 3.37 billion lek in 2027, with around 1.5 billion lek, or 45% of the total, earmarked for public investment, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja announced. The draft budget also allocates 495.9 million lek to artistic projects, marking …
European Commission praises progress on Bank of Albania legislation
The European Commission’s 2026 report highlights Albania’s new law on the Bank of Albania and progress in central bank independence, payment systems and banking stability. The report notes that the new legislation aligns with European Union rules on central bank independence and the prohibition of monetary financing for the public …
PM Rama says businesses must drive economic development
Prime Minister Edi Rama has stressed the need for an inspection system that supports businesses and promotes economic growth without creating unnecessary barriers. Speaking at a conference organised by the General Inspectorate on investment and compliance with legal requirements, he said inspections should serve a practical purpose rather than burden …
TIRANA, Nov 7 /ATA/ – The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs on Saturday expressed shock and condolences following a deadly shooting in Krakow, Poland, in which six people were killed and at least 15 others injured. In a statement posted on social media platform X, the ministry extended its …
Two separate protests took place in Tirana on Saturday, one organised by students and the other by the opposition Democratic Party. Students gathered outside the Ministry of Education. Democratic Party supporters marched from the Prime Minister’s Office towards the Education ministry, seeking to join the students. The students rejected their …
TIRANA, Nov. 7 /ATA/ – Albania has made progress in aligning its legislation on culture and intellectual property with European Union standards, Tourism, Culture and Sport Minister Blendi Gonxhja said following a meeting with EU Ambassador to Albania Sofia Moreira de Sousa on Saturday. The talks focused on the country’s …
TIRANA, Nov. 7 /ATA/ – Clashes escalated outside the Ministry of Education in Tirana on Saturday after several protesters set fire to two rubbish bins and pushed them towards police officers. Protesters also threw various objects at police, who responded with pepper spray and tear gas. Tensions intensified further when …
TIRANA, Nov. 7 /ATA/ – Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu has condemned acts of violence during Saturday’s protest outside the Ministry of Education in Tirana, after footage she shared on social media showed masked demonstrators throwing stones at police officers. In her post, Koçiu denounced the violence and expressed support …
TIRANA, Nov. 7 /ATA/ – Protesters moved from the area outside the Ministry of Education, where clashes with police had erupted earlier, and marched towards the Prime Minister’s office in Tirana on Saturday. The march was marked by rising tensions and further incidents, with protesters attempting to block the road …
TIRANA, Nov. 7 ATA/ – Albania’s General Directorate of Archives and Türkiye’s General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre plan to deepen cooperation on the preservation and digitisation of cadastral records. On the second day of an official visit to Istanbul, the Archives Director-General Auron Rrokaj met Haki Shahin, head …
TIRANA, Nov. 7 /ATA/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama has shared footage of ongoing construction work on tunnels along the Corridor VIII route in the Librazhd area, describing the project as part of Albania’s ongoing infrastructure development. The video, posted on social media on Saturday, shows progress at the construction …
TIRANA, Nov 7 /ATA/ First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Albania Holta Zaçaj participated in the “Fast Payments in the Western Balkans” panel in Tirana, where she highlighted the significance of Albania’s accession to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). She noted that SEPA membership is expected to lower …
TIRANA, Nov 7 /ATA/ A complex operation to remove a giant tumour on the side of the nose has been successfully carried out at the Mother Teresa University Hospital Centre (QSUT). According to a social media post by QSUT, the patient was initially assessed by the Otorhinolaryngology Department, where a comprehensive …