With the aim of strengthening bilateral economic relations and identifying new investment opportunities, the Greece-Albania Business Forum & B2B Meetings took place today, Friday, May 22, 2026, at the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).
The event was organized by the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), with the support of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) Hellas, as part of the reception of a business delegation from the Tirana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, led by Albania’s Deputy Minister of Economy and Innovation, Enkelejd Musabelliu.
The forum was preceded by a meeting between the administrations of the two Chambers aimed at exchanging views on the strategic strengthening of trade ties. Representing the ACCI Executive Committee were President Yannis Bratakos and member and Head of Business Advisory Support, Fanis Matsopoulos. The Tirana Chamber of Commerce and Industry was represented by its president, Nikolin Jaka, and vice president, Loretan Prespa, while the meeting was also attended by the Albanian ambassador to Greece, Luela Hajdaraga.
The forum’s proceedings were opened with a speech by the president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Yannis Bratakos, who emphasized: “This event is not just another business meeting. It is a meaningful opportunity to strengthen the economic bridge between Greece and Albania, two neighboring countries that share geographical proximity, human ties, and a common interest in shaping a more dynamic, stable, and prosperous future for our broader region.”
Mr. Bratakos then highlighted the steadily growing economic importance of the relationship between the two countries, noting that Greek companies have been active in Albania for many years, contributing to investment, employment, the transfer of know-how, and market development. At the same time, he highlighted the dynamic growth, outward-looking nature, and competitiveness of Albanian entrepreneurship, a fact that creates a strong foundation for deeper cooperation, more targeted investments, and meaningful partnerships. “There are many sectors in which Greece and Albania can cooperate even more closely: energy, infrastructure, construction, tourism, the agri-food sector, logistics, technology, innovation, real estate development, and services. “These are sectors with real prospects, not only for strengthening bilateral trade but also for developing joint initiatives that can target the entire market of Southeast Europe,” said the president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
For his part, Nikolin Jaka pointed out that, despite the significant increase in trade between Greece and Albania, the real potential for economic cooperation between the two countries remains even greater and, to a significant extent, untapped. At the same time, he emphasized the need to transition from traditional trade relations to a more comprehensive model of cooperation based on joint investments, innovation, co-production, and long-term regional development.
Luela Hajdaraga highlighted the continued strengthening of economic relations between Greece and Albania, noting the increase in trade activity, the strengthening of investment ties, and the significant contribution of the business communities of both countries. He also made special mention of the importance of recent agreements in the fields of tourism, energy, and investment, which, as he noted, create the conditions for even closer regional cooperation and sustainable development.
Focusing on the role of research and digital transformation, the Deputy Minister of Development, responsible for Research and Innovation, Stavros Kalafatis, referred to Greece’s strategic choice to invest in innovation and new technologies, highlighting the significant increase in public funding for research and the strengthening of highly skilled human resources in recent years. At the same time, he emphasized that the country is building a modern ecosystem of innovation and artificial intelligence, with the aim of transforming knowledge and technology into a productive and developmental force for the economy and society.
Regarding the prospects for the Albanian economy and its path toward Europe, Albania’s Deputy Minister of Economy and Innovation, Enkelejd Musabelliu, emphasized that the Albanian economy is developing dynamically, rapidly adapting to European standards and making steady progress on the country’s path toward European Union accession. At the same time, he highlighted the significant investment opportunities emerging in sectors such as infrastructure, energy, tourism, and transportation, emphasizing that Albania is currently a particularly attractive investment destination for Greek businesses.
This was followed by specialized presentations on Albania’s investment environment, free economic zones, and technology parks by Laura Plaku, Executive Director of the Albanian Investment and Development Agency (AIDA), Julian Adili, Executive Director of ASDRE—Albanian State Development & Real Estate—Albanian Investment Company (AIC), Hilda Alissandratou, Director of Investment Attraction—Tourism, Real Estate & Creative Industries at Enterprise Greece; Dritan Delija, Manager of TEDA Tirana—Albania’s first free economic zone—and Vahdije Kadiu, Director of Projects and Partnerships at DURANA Technology Park—Albania’s first technology park.
The forum concluded with bilateral business meetings.
SOURCE: APE