After a marathon meeting with key actors from the technology, innovation, and start-up ecosystem in the country, the key conclusions were shared regarding the journey so far, the challenges, and the opportunities ahead for Albania within the framework of the “Albania 2030” vision and european integration.

 

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Prime Minister Edi Rama: Thank you very much for this day, very intense, yet at the same time full of new and inspiring things for our side, which belongs to the real world, not this new digital world.

First and foremost, I want to say that today there was truly a lot of substance on the table, and if we manage to set the cornerstones we discussed and then jointly follow an action roadmap, we will be able to create the best possible outcome, based on the exponential progress capacity that the new world of technology has brought us to take the country to an entirely new level.

It has also been a pleasure to get to know some innovators up close, as there was a discussion between the terms innovator and novator, someone even presented me with an old document that was quite fascinating regarding the centre of innovative thinking. It was truly impressive to become acquainted with some of you in terms of your current activities, interesting things—that, as a result, have led to the planning of a series of other events that we will organize, whether to present your innovations to the investment sector, including construction and tourism, or to arrange an open dialogue with second-tier banks and the Bank of Albania, to convey the message to the banks, which remain in a state of backwardness that threatens the sector’s progress—and, even more so, a backwardness that is entirely unjustified considering that all the necessary legislation is now approved.

All the instruments from the sector’s side are available, and the banks’ persistence in not moving at the same pace not only harms the sector but also damages society’s broader interests by hindering the further facilitation of all interactions related to financial transactions.

On the other hand, it is just as important that in Tirana, this September, we will be able to present to the world of contemporary architecture—and to the world at large—an innovation coming from an Albanian start-up, which, if it is indeed as it appears to me from what I have seen, and judging by the interest shown by many architects eager to gain access, will significantly transform the way the entire sector operates and the way architectural studios function globally.

This is no small feat. Likewise, with great joy and a strong sense of responsibility, I will personally commit—together with the relevant structures—to exploring whether we can build in Albania, using this new technology proposed by the aforementioned start-up, the world’s first museum entirely powered by artificial intelligence.

Having said all this, I believe it is appropriate that the roundtables produce summarised references of the topics that were discussed. I will start with the roundtable I attended—not as a speaker, but as one of the listeners—and, of course, keeping in mind the responsibilities that fall on us as a government.

First of all, we observed with great satisfaction that this sector is making an effort that is significantly lacking across the private sector in general, namely, the effort to understand in depth and to internally benefit from the rapprochement with the EU and from EU membership.

The organisation created within the sector, with a considerable number of members, is doing meaningful work to acquire the right expertise in order to enable the sector to benefit from EU funds by submitting credible projects and applications. This is a fantastic example for the entire private sector, which remains just as backwards as the banks in terms of digitalisation, and the private sector in terms of its relationship with the EU.

Another point we have agreed upon is to establish a joint Assembly—a common forum—at least once every four months, to address not only the challenges but also the innovations of the sector, as well as all the milestones that need to be revisited, revised, or added along the way forward.

In saying this, I want to emphasize that, on our side, the Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, the Minister of Economy, Culture and Innovation, as well as the Minister of Education, will engage with you to draft a framework agreement between the government and your sector. I strongly believe that we must open a new chapter—meaning that you should have access to all government structures, so you are able to obtain the necessary data foundation to build the processes that will then generate Artificial Intelligence models that will serve us in delivering public services, and will undoubtedly serve you as well in your work. Ultimately, they will also serve us together in accomplishing what was proposed here earlier: the promotion of our own products.

We are at a point where it is by no means a lack of modesty to claim the ambition to create and promote products beyond the country’s borders—considering the quality that has been developed and the talent we have at our disposal. A number of other matters were also discussed, and I won’t go on further, except to say that I asked the participants at the roundtable—where there was even a potential candidate for president of the association, an elder from the IT world, whom I consider both a witness and a peer in age—to contribute.

We all agreed—you here today, and all those in the sector who want to contribute—to submit your version of a draft program titled “AI Albania 2030”: what Albania and Artificial Intelligence should look like by the year 2030. This draft will then be presented, discussed, approved, and we as a government will take it forward to Parliament as part of our national program and turn it into a government work agenda in cooperation with all of you.

Let me add here that the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence will be chosen with your participation. And if you manage to create an AI model capable of selecting the minister, that will mark the first step toward a historic moment—when Albania becomes the first country to have an entire government composed of AI ministers and an AI prime minister. At that point, we’ll have entered a whole new level, where AI will do all the work, and the rest of us will just talk politics—without having any ability to make decisions.

I didn’t delve into some of the more detailed proposals, because I believe you will address them yourselves and include them in the programmatic document. However, one proposal I do want to highlight—for those following this discussion, and especially for the private sector—was the suggestion to make it a legal requirement for every Albanian company with 100 employees or more to establish an R&D (Research and Development) unit. I believe this is a far-sighted proposal, with a cost that is entirely negligible compared to the benefits. We will certainly welcome this and other proposals if they are submitted by you in that more articulated document

So I made this intervention mainly to emphasize to the private sector the necessity of opening its mind and eyes to technology, not just digital technology, but Artificial Intelligence in particular. As is very clear from everything I heard today, and from what we all read and hear every day, AI represents a historic golden opportunity for us to make a significant leap forward—if we are capable and determined enough to seize it.

 

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Finally, just a few brief points regarding the matter of interaction. What falls to us is the responsibility to properly structure a process that channels all mutual needs, in such a way that no barriers exist between the state and the sector, specifically in terms of access to institutions and access to institutional processes. Otherwise, this collaboration is simply not feasible.

To achieve this, we must elevate the Innovation and Excellence Agency to a new level—transforming all the nuclei that have been created for each sector from closed units into open ones. These should be ready to integrate, in real time and as needed, all those from the sector who wish to participate and work within the processes of their specific field. On this point, I believe we are in full agreement.

What remained unsaid, from what I observed, is that we also have another ambition: that by the end of this decade, Albania becomes a cashless society, meaning that all interactions and financial transactions are fully digital. Achieving this will require a major effort and significant awareness-raising. The technology is already available; what’s needed is more upskilling, but the tools exist. I believe that if we manage to properly outline the roadmap ahead, this goal is entirely achievable, and it will free the country from a heavy burden of outdated practices and inefficiencies that weigh down everyday life.

Lastly, I would kindly ask that, in the document you are preparing, you feel as free and creative as possible—no limits will be imposed.

We will also organize:

An event with hospitality infrastructure developers—hotels, resorts—to present an entirely new approach regarding their financing;
A meeting with the Bank of Albania and second-tier banks to properly discuss the effective implementation of the law.

With the architecture start-ups, we also hope to organise an international event in Tirana.

Thank you!