Today, with the signing of an important cooperation agreement, another strategic step was finalized for the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Albania and the development of the domestic defense industry.

The company “Kayo” sh.a., which operates in the defense and security industry with products and services for the Armed Forces of Albania and international markets, signed a cooperation agreement with the Italian company Fincantieri, currently the largest builder of commercial and military ships in Europe. This partnership paves the way to produce naval vessels in Albania, not only for the country’s needs but also for export to international markets.

Present at the signing ceremony were Prime Minister Edi Rama, Minister of Defense Ermal Nufi, the President of Fincantieri, Pierroberto Folgiero, as well as senior representatives of the industry.

Minister of Defense Nufi emphasized that this cooperation brings multiple strategic values for the country.
“This cooperation brings several strategic benefits. Albania becomes a new European base of Fincantieri for small and medium-sized vessels. Fincantieri expands its production capacity in Albania, and ‘Kayo’ positions itself as a reliable industrial partner with an international architecture. The business model is that over 90% of clients are international, existing clients of Fincantieri,” – stated Minister Nufi.

The project foresees the creation of a new shipyard in Pashaliman, where around 400 people are expected to be employed. This investment is considered a cornerstone for the country’s industrial development, while also promoting youth employment and strengthening domestic capacities in advanced technology.

“Around 400 people will be employed in this new shipyard, which is a cornerstone not only for industrial production but also for the employment of young men and women in cutting-edge technology that will be developed in Vlora, and which will include not only the production of vessels but also the growth of domestic capacities, both industrial and manufacturing, as well as human capacities, which is an added and very important element,” – said, among other things, Minister Nufi.

For his part, Prime Minister Rama described the agreement as an important moment for the future of the country’s security and economy, emphasizing that this initiative will create a joint Italian Albanian excellence in the shipbuilding industry, bringing innovation and advanced technology into the country.

Prime Minister Edi Rama:Dear friends and guests,

Today we have the honor of having here with us the highest representatives of one of the largest companies of excellence in Europe, the company Fincantieri, and personally its President, Mr. Pierroberto Folgiero. At the same time, today and here we also have a high-level delegation of another European company of excellence, Leonardo, and its President, Mr. Pontecorvo.

Therefore, I believe we have agreed that, in honor of these important friends and partners, who also represent the unwavering will of the Italian government to strengthen our strategic partnership, I will deliver my remarks in my grandmother’s second language.

Today, with the high-level representatives of Fincantieri and Leonardo, we have certainly reached a very important milestone for the future, not only of Albania’s security apparatus and our Armed Forces, but also of the economy itself and the future of Albanian youth.

This is an agreement with Fincantieri to create a new company, “Fincantieri Albania,” together with our state agency “Kayo,” to produce naval vessels here in Albania, at the Pashaliman shipyard, for the benefit of the Albanian Armed Forces, but also for the armed forces of allied countries.

What makes this agreement special is also what the senior representative of Fincantieri said, emphasizing that the world of shipyards is changing, and this agreement seeks precisely to define a will and a vision to accompany this change with something new, something distinctive, something special, which will undoubtedly create an Italian-Albanian excellence here on our territory and will also serve the broader new shipbuilding world with its innovation and contributions.

On the other hand, this agreement is very good news for young people, for the boys and girls of the industrial school of Vlora, who will be the first to be contacted and invited to take part in a tailored training path so that tomorrow, and not in a distant future, but in a very near one, they can become participants in this new company of excellence in their own territory, in their hometown.

They will, of course, be accompanied in their training journey by Fincantieri professionals and will be educated both in Italy, precisely where Fincantieri has its spirit and foundation, and in Albania, in Pashaliman, where this “second spirit,” so to speak, will soon come to life.

At the same time, this agreement opens the way for a new economic discussion, both for Fincantieri and for Kayo, and for Albania. As I said, we will be the first to benefit from the company’s products, concretely from the first two vessels that will be built for our Armed Forces, which will bring the total number of our fleet to seven, a number that, in terms defined by our strategic status and NATO, is optimal in relation to Albania’s weight and responsibility in the Mediterranean.

After that, production will continue further to export these vessels wherever the new technology and innovation accompanying this journey will be implemented.

It is truly fantastic, without exaggeration.

I was speaking earlier with our friends from Fincantieri. One of my first visits abroad as a newly appointed Prime Minister was to the headquarters of Fincantieri, and there I presented to their leadership the Pashaliman shipyard, suggesting that it might be interesting to explore the possibility of opening a research and innovation branch there.

But those were times of peace, a period of comfort, Europe was, in a sense, asleep.

Today, times are different, and they have dictated this step by Fincantieri toward our coast and toward this agreement, which is truly a dream for Albania, for our Armed Forces, and for our industrial economy.

At the same time, I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the President of Leonardo and its representatives, who have stood by us and formalized an agreement to strengthen our defense in a comprehensive way, both at sea and on land, with missile defense systems and maritime protection systems.

This is only the beginning.

I hope that the world improves and that wars come to an end, but Albania is too small to determine the future of the world or the outcome of geopolitical chess. We must adapt, we must adapt, in our own scale, to ensure dignified defense and to have everything necessary to stand at the level of a small but proud country within the Transatlantic alliance to which we belong.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

And the cherry on top, of course, is the presence of the Ambassador of Italy at this ceremony, a partner with strong will and great availability, who has helped us tremendously not to get lost in translation.

Because although we speak Italian quite well, we do not speak the language of technology, defense, missiles and counter-missiles equally well. For this reason, the Ambassador has been extraordinary, not only in defense, but also in “attack,” because together we will “advance” on May 9 with the music of Ennio Morricone, inviting all member countries as guests of Albania and Italy, which represent the spirit of Europe in this country.

The rest represents the brain and the muscles, but the spirit, indeed, is Albania and Italy.

Thank you very much!