The Netherlands "small" in numbers, but big in the market/ Around 92 companies hold 9.2% of sales from foreign businesses
At first glance, the picture of foreign business in Albania shows Italy as dominating. It has the highest number of foreign-owned or co-owned enterprises in the country and holds the main weight in employment and sales. But, the data beyond the simple ranking by number of companies tells another story, that of the Netherlands.
According to the INSTAT report on foreign and joint ventures in Albania, 92 companies with Dutch capital operated, while Italian companies numbered 2,930. The difference is large, almost overwhelming in number. However, when it comes to net sales, the weight of the Netherlands is much higher than would be expected from this relatively limited presence. Dutch companies account for 9.2% of net sales of foreign and joint ventures, while Italy accounts for 25.6%.
This means that the Netherlands is not standing out in Albania for its wide reach, but for its concentration in enterprises with high economic weight. With only 92 companies, it manages to maintain a significant share of net sales in this segment of the economy.
This contrast becomes even clearer when comparing the two main indicators. The Netherlands accounts for 5.6% of employment in foreign and joint ventures. So its share in generated income is significantly higher than its share in employment. This suggests a business profile more focused on high-value, more capital-intensive activities or companies with higher turnover volumes.
This profile is not only evident in sales. Even in direct investments, the Netherlands ranks at the top of the stock of foreign investments in Albania at the end of 2025, with 2.7 billion euros. This further strengthens the idea that the Dutch presence in the economy is not large in numbers, but concentrated in large capitals and weighty activities.
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