Edi Rama: Diaspora, a key force on Albania's path towards development

2026-04-14 10:15:00, Aktualitet CNA

In his speech at the Diaspora Summit in Tirana, Prime Minister Edi Rama emphasized the important role of the diaspora in the development and transformation of Albania over the years.

Rama said that the first diaspora summit marked an important moment of reunion between Albania and its children, at a time when the country was reborn, but still with open wounds. According to him, this was the first step to unite energies and move towards a stronger future.

He emphasized that today Albania is in a new phase, where the connection with the diaspora has become the axis of development, making it not only an emotional, but also an active part of the country, including through the exercise of the right to vote.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the transformation of Albania's image in the international arena. From a country that was once viewed with suspicion, today, according to him, Albania is identified with nature, sun and hospitality, while its name is known and respected globally.

In terms of the economy, Rama highlighted the significant increase in indicators: the gross national product has reached 27 billion euros from less than 10 billion euros, with the aim of reaching 35 billion euros by the end of the decade. He also mentioned the increase in per capita income and the development of tourism, where Albania has gone from 2 million to 12 million visitors per year, as well as the increase in foreign investments.

In conclusion, Rama described the diaspora as an indispensable partner on Albania's path towards development and European integration.

"It is enough to look back to the time when we began work on the first diaspora summit, to gain strength to begin the colossal work we have begun. This was a moment of reunion with a reborn country, but full of open wounds. It was the first step to summon the power of the diaspora and to feel stronger, to go towards the summit where today we are closer than ever before. It was an interrupted conversation between Albania and its sons. Today we are in the phase of building what has been the axis of our path, the connection with those at the end of the world, where the sun rises from the west.

It was a fundamental requirement to be not only an emotional part of this country, but also an active part of it. You come here today after exercising your right to vote.

From a voice that needed to be heard, today it is a voice that is heard for the leadership of this country.

Today you are proud everywhere and whenever the name of our country is called with attention. The name of Albania has undergone a profound transformation: from a synonym for evil, Albania has become a synonym for nature, sun and hospitality.

From a name that often had to be explained where it fell on the world map, today Albania is a name that speaks for itself in all the languages ??of the world.

"We started our journey with a gross national product of less than 10 billion euros; today it is 27 billion euros and by the end of this decade we aim to bring it to 35 billion euros. Today we are over 11 thousand euros per year, and in 2030 we aim to be over 15 thousand euros per year. We started our journey with 2 million tourists; today Albania has 12 million tourists and has spent 1.6 billion euros in foreign investments per year", said Rama./ CNA