Forbes Global Properties, the prestigious international real estate network, has opened its doors in Albania through its exclusive representative, Capital Point.

At the special ceremony dedicated to this occasion, Prime Minister Rama stated that Albania today is a very attractive destination, and the presence of such a network “ is a very good news for everyone that is involved in the real estate industry, but it’s a very good news for the Albanians, because it means that their properties are getting more and more value.”

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Prime Minister Edi Rama:

I apologize to my compatriots, I’m going to speak in English to honor our guests, because the translation through headphones was not working, which might be a very good signal, meaning there is intel that says you understand Albanian.

Anyhow, I’m not relying on the intel, I’m just saying my few words in English. First of all, by expressing very heartfelt thank you to the couple that made this happen. It’s something that I was, to say the truth, skeptical, because we know very well that Forbes property is not a franchise here, but it’s the thing, and having the CEO coming from the United States with not a small group to celebrate this evening is simply a big achievement, so congratulations.

I was confused, because when he was offered translation from Albanian to English, he refused, and I thought he was an old Albanian that grew up in the United States, and his face would say so, but I learned that he has nothing to do with Albanian roots, so you have to explain to me one day why you didn’t want translation.

On the other hand, I want to say very much welcome to all of you. I’m sure that the best is yet to come, and you know it better than me, otherwise you would not have set foot in Albania, and yes, it’s true that today Albania is hot, and it’s a hot destination, and it’s very good to know that Forbes properties have a lot of expression of interest about Albania, and it’s also good to know that they are not everywhere, they don’t go everywhere, they go exactly where they think it’s a new frontier, and this is very good news for everyone that is involved in the real estate industry, but it’s very good news for the Albanians, because it means that their properties are getting more and more value.

After having said a few days ago in Vienna that everyone should look at the real estate in Albania as a great opportunity, and as a great investment, because in four to five years we’re going to be part of the European Union, and the history of new members tells that the value of real estate has an immediate doubling. Many people didn’t understand exactly what I was talking about, and they got the negative side of the message that it will become even more expensive to have a house, but the positive side of the message is that every Albanian family will have a property, its own house, that will have a much bigger value in not many years to come. Which means that in a country that has the largest percentage of houses that are owned by the people, 94% is huge, that are owned, not rented, owned by the people, it’s an incredible thing that the value of the house as an asset grows in that way. So it’s very positive.

Then the question how we will deal with the need for affordable houses is very legitimate, but it doesn’t undervalue the great progress and the great change that we are having in terms of the value of the real estate.

So I’m very, very honored to be here, to have been invited to welcome some ruthless American capitalists. You know, they are sharks. They are sharks, look at him. Just look at his face. It’s the typical American shark of every movie, but it’s good, it’s good, and we need them to suck as much as possible blood from Europeans and others that will buy real estate in Albania, right?

So thank you very much to everyone again and enjoy the event, and the moderator, who has challenged me, because usually I make the longest speech, but she did it longer than me in the beginning. So we are friends.

Thank you!