Albania is experiencing steady economic growth, reflected in the expansion of productive activity, rising wages, and the creation of new jobs.

Numerous businesses attest to this, one of them being the industrial complex in Durrës, where several companies operate in integrated fields such as transport, recycling, and industrial processing. The complex was visited today by Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by the Minister of Economy and Innovation, Delina Ibrahimaj.

This complex represents a new model of economic development, supported by investments in technology and the enhancement of professional skills, which translate directly into higher wages and quality employment opportunities.

Prime Minister Rama closely observed the activity of the companies, which began as modest initiatives and have transformed into modern enterprises operating with advanced technology. One of the most meaningful examples is the processing of electronic waste, from which added value is created, extending even to the production of gold items, effectively turning waste into an economic resource.

 

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Prime Minister Edi Rama:

Thank you very much for the hospitality and for your willingness to have this discussion. Naturally, the reason we are here, including with cameras, is to promote as much as possible the good example of Albanian enterprises which, like this one, as we saw from the very kind presentation given by the founders, started with a big dream but extremely limited resources, and step by step have transformed into impressive realities such as the one we have just seen, where in fact the process goes from electronic waste to the highest-level processing of gold rings and necklaces.

So in essence, gold is extracted from waste, which for many is considered simply rubbish to be disposed of, whereas for this company, it is treated as material from a mine from which added value is created.

I often notice in summaries of comments on social media, including my own, which are provided to me by the media team, that people frequently ask: “Why don’t you open factories? Where are the factories? Why are there no enterprises? Where are the enterprises?”, while in reality the number of factories and enterprises in Albania is continuously increasing, and not only increasing, but we are also seeing a shift, as has happened here, from the original small-scale setup and basic machinery, something that at the beginning looked like small concrete mixers, to sophisticated, computerised machinery, which embodies the increase in the value of work, the quality of work, and naturally, wages.

To be honest, I did not ask the founders what wages they started with nearly 20 years ago, but I know that today wages here go up to €1,500, and with a very simple calculation, the average wage here is above €1,000, which is a meaningful wage for today’s Albania. I am convinced that it will continue to rise in line with the company’s ambition to reach up to 40 well-informed and well-trained specialists for high-value production.

These realities are necessary to stimulate attention and interest among young people, starting with those in vocational schools. It was mentioned here by company representatives, by the minister, and, if I am not mistaken, by the mayor, that vocational schools are an address, but on the other hand we must do more to bring vocational education closer to industrial reality. We must also do more to inform companies about the new developments in vocational education legislation, where we have included work-based integration, meaning part of the week in work and part in school.

This is of interest to companies, I believe, as it allows them to identify students suited for the job and to become part of financing their education, while at the same time gaining their commitment to continue working within the company, effectively building a loyal workforce.

This is not an Albanian experience; it is a well-established model in developed European countries, which we have studied. What remains is to work more closely with companies to open both their doors and those of schools, so that there is far greater interaction between students and enterprise.

Another point I want to emphasise, especially at a time when we are often discussing pensions, is that these wages are secure also in terms of social insurance. Those working here are working for today while securing their future.

We are preparing a new pension scheme that will not replace but will complement the current one, allowing all employees to save more for their pension by allocating any percentage of their salary into a dedicated fund, which the state will match with the same amount.

So, if someone chooses to allocate €1 per month from their salary into their pension fund, the state will add another €1, making it €2. This will be combined with the state contributing for public employees and the private sector for its own employees. This will gradually build a pension fund that guarantees both those investing in it and strengthens the long-term relationship between employer and employee.

At a time when technology is bringing major transformations and replacing human labour in certain aspects, there is simultaneously an increasing need for highly specialised human resources. At the end of the day, it is clear that robots will not be able to meet all the needs of businesses, and therefore every enterprise today is highly interested in specialised employees or those willing to specialise.

This company here has 15 high-level specialists; it needs 40. The issue is not that the remaining 25 are waiting at the door and are not being hired due to cost concerns—the company is ready to pay—but simply cannot find them. This is both concerning and positive, because it means there are employment opportunities with very good wages.

Without taking more time from those who should be working, I will conclude by saying that we are in a position today to list many positive developments resulting from economic growth, while also recognising that there is much more potential.

For this reason, we are preparing a dedicated financing programme for enterprises, primarily aimed at small and medium-sized businesses, but also for larger enterprises that wish to invest specifically in human resources and specialised processes.

We will introduce a new financial instrument, which we have called “Double Your Enterprise,” making access to credit much easier. We will set a ceiling of up to €2 million for enterprises that have a clear growth plan.

I have personally met many founders of small enterprises who have clear ideas and vision but lack sufficient financing capacity. With this instrument, supported by strong state guarantees and lower interest rates than current commercial rates, we aim to support enterprises in their further development.

We will also establish criteria related to wages, social insurance, and working conditions, all of which will contribute to creating a platform where Albanian enterprises, led by people like the founders of this company, can access support when they have solid, bank-approved development plans.

Thank you very much.