10 Reasons why you should invest in Albania
    
1. Our domestic economy and exports are expanding

Source: INSTAT.

Low inflation rate

Businesses prefer a predictable environment in which to operate. Consistent low annual inflation rates in recent years have shown that Albania provides the economic stability that gives investors the confidence to invest.

Source: Bank of Albania, Annual Report 2008

3. Established trading with the EU

EU remains the major trade partner since 64.6% of foreign trade is with the European Union countries. 96.6 % of Albania’s exports are designated for EU markets and this export partner is an important predictor for future growth. 

4. Site availability from production facilities to high quality office space

With the Concession Law in place, various sites are available to the foreign investors. These range from basic production facilities throughout the country to high quality serviced office space in our main cities. Industrial sites are better priced in Albania than in Eastern European or other Balkan countries. Electricity and water costs are also at or below those of other countries. Factory units, which in many cases are government owned, are available for refurbishment and are offered along with attractive leasing arrangements based upon the number of jobs created.

5. Gateway to the Balkans Free Trade Area

Albania benefits from many Free Trade Area agreements with Balkan nations to the east of Albania. Investors can manufacture in Albania for export to the 50 million-strong Balkan market as well as throughout the European Union.

6. Total labor costs are lower than comparable countries

Gross wage costs are a fraction of our competitors’ levels within the region, including Romania and Bulgaria, while social security ‘on costs’ in Albania amount to just 30.7% of gross wages.

Download PDF fact sheet showing comparative labour costs

7. Adaptable and flexible skilled labor force

Albania’s working population of slightly fewer than two million has a median age that is young by European standards, just 29 years compared to 40 years in Italy. A high proportion of under-40s speak two languages, many of them after returning from studying and/or working abroad. The current unemployment rate of approximately 15% shows that there is no complacency in the job market while the number of students in social sciences, business, and law accounts for more than one-third of all those in higher education.

Most Albanians learn either Italian or Greek from childhood, and are well able to perform customer-relation positions in these near-mother tongues. The younger generations learn English, which is rapidly becoming the primary foreign language taught in schools and universities.

Download PDF fact sheet describing Albania’s human capital

Albania is working hard to improve its administrative procedures. According to the World Bank, starting a business in Albania requires only a few more procedures than the average EU country while the flexibility to release workers is rated far better in Albania than in the EU or other Balkan or Eastern European countries. With a pro-business government in place, simplifying the administration remains a priority that will benefit all businesses.

Download PDF fact sheet describing company registration procedures

10. Investment opportunities through privatization

Since the government has reviewed its privatization strategy the privatizations represent an important source of investment and an opportunity to transform some key strategic sectors of the Albanian economy. The main tool used to realize this is the law on concessions which has been passed with the support of the World Bank and is designed to stimulate the development of key sections of the county’s infrastructure and public services.