Ibrahimaj at the High-Level Panel “CEFTA Week 2025” - Albania takes over the next Presidency of CEFTA in 2026
The Minister of Economy and Innovation, Delina Ibrahimaj, participated in the High-Level Panel organized within the framework of CEFTA Week 2025, in Pristina, an event that brought together key decision-makers from the region to discuss the future direction of trade cooperation and economic integration.
During her speech, the Minister emphasized that the economies of the Western Balkans are facing a new global reality, where supply chains are changing, climatic conditions are becoming harsher and competition requires more integrated and predictable markets. In this context, the Minister stated that CEFTA remains a key mechanism for the stability, security and long-term growth of the economies of the region, serving as the most important basis for rapprochement with the European common market.
Minister Ibrahimaj underlined the need to turn regional cooperation into a daily practice, through the harmonization of rules, the digitalization of border crossings, increased transparency and business inclusion, technical assistance and the inclusion of SMEs in policy-making. She also emphasized that progress in CEFTA requires sustained political will to eliminate red tape and build a favorable climate for entrepreneurship and increase investor confidence.
An important focus of discussion during this meeting was the role of CEFTA in attracting value-added investments. “The region should move towards investments that bring technology, skills and productivity, making CEFTA a functional platform for gradual integration into the EU market,” said Ibrahimaj.
At the end of the panel, it was made official that Albania will take over the CEFTA Presidency in 2026, where the Minister presented the four strategic priorities that our country will lead during this mandate:
- Strengthening political and institutional cooperation between CEFTA parties;
- Increasing transparency and participation of economic and social stakeholders in policymaking;
- Producing concrete results for businesses, especially in facilitating the movement of goods, Green Lanes, tourism and agri-food trade;
- Supporting value-added investments through a more harmonized and predictable regional market.
According to Minister Ibrahimaj, this is the moment for CEFTA to move to another important moment, emphasizing Albania's commitment to advancing this process in the spirit of European integration and joint economic development of the region.
"New law on party financing to be approved by December" - Celibashi and Gonzato: Electoral Reform to ensure transparency
The financing of political parties was the focus of a roundtable discussion between the Central Election Commission, IDEA and the Center for the Rule of Law......
UN chief proposes budget cuts - $577 million less for next year, 20% of staff to be laid off
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres officially proposed cutting the UN's core budget for next year by $577 million and eliminating more than......
Debit cards, the main means of electronic payments - BoA: Market expands by 2.4%. Around 1.6 million in total circulation
Debit cards are the main means of electronic payments in the country. The latest data from the Central Bank shows that more than 1.6 million bank cards with......
ADF opens the competition for urban transformation in Vlora - Investment of over 688 million lek for recreational spaces, modern market and parking
The Albanian Development Fund has announced the opening of the competition for the construction of multimodal mobility hubs, construction of an underground......
The "unusual" places where Albanian products went/ New trade map: From Jordan and Uganda, to Turkmenistan and Tunisia
If we usually talk about the traditional markets of Albanian exports: Italy, Kosovo, Greece, Germany, the picture of 2025 looks familiar. A decline in the......
EU ends dependence on Russian fossil fuels - Von der Leyen: A new era for Europe begins from 2027
The European Union reached a preliminary agreement to completely eliminate Russian fossil fuels, marking a historic step towards the continent's energy......
Tirana, among the cheapest cities for public transportation/ London with the highest costs, the most affordable Balkan
Albania and the Balkan countries continue to remain among the regions with the lowest public transport prices in Europe, even at a time when major European......
The US Dollar Weakens - How Much Are the Franc, Euro and Pound Exchanged Today?
The US dollar has registered a decrease in value this morning compared to the day before, as it was bought for 82.5 lek and sold for 83.7 lek according to......
