Albania-India relations strengthen/ Interest in tourism and economic cooperation grows

2026-04-18 10:30:00, Aktualitet CNA

Albania-India relations strengthen/ Interest in tourism and economic cooperation

The Ambassador of India to Albania, Ravindra Prasad Jaiswal, from Pogradec, has emphasized that relations between the two countries are entering a new phase of development, as this year marks the 70th anniversary of their establishment.

In this context, the organization of a series of cultural and institutional activities is expected.

These include a photographic exhibition dedicated to Mother Teresa, as well as the visit of an Indian deputy minister to Albania for consultations with the Albanian government.

Also, the possibility of bringing a cultural troupe from India, which could perform a performance in Pogradec, is being considered.

"We have had a long-standing relationship and this year we are celebrating the 70th anniversary of their establishment. In this context, we will organize several activities. We are proposing a photo exhibition dedicated to Mother Teresa. Also, a deputy minister from India will come to Albania for consultations with the Albanian government. We are also thinking of bringing a cultural troupe from India to Albania and perhaps organizing a one-night show in Pogradec.

"These are some of the activities we anticipate, while we are in discussions about several agreements. We currently have two or three agreements in force, but we hope to implement many more during this year and in the years to come," the ambassador said.

Meanwhile, another important indicator of the rapprochement between the two countries is the significant increase in tourism. After the establishment of the visa-free regime in 2020, the number of Indian visitors has been steadily increasing. Last year alone, around 30 to 35 thousand Indian citizens visited Albania, while in the first four months of 2025 this number has almost doubled compared to the same period a year earlier.

"From media reports, it appears that since 2020 when the visa-free regime was established, the number of visitors has increased significantly, especially for Indian citizens living in Gulf countries, the United Kingdom or the United States.

According to the aforementioned data, last year the number of Indian visitors from both India and the diaspora was around 30,000 to 35,000 people. While in 2025, in the first four months alone, the number of Indians who visited Albania has almost doubled compared to the same period in 2024.

"This shows a clear upward trend and strong potential for the Indian tourism market towards Albania, with expectations that this flow will continue to expand this year and in the years to come," the ambassador stated.

The growing interest is not only related to citizens coming from India, but also to the Indian diaspora living in the Gulf countries, the United Kingdom and the United States, making Albania an increasingly preferred destination. Regarding the labor market, although the figures still remain modest, the trend appears positive. Over the past year, around 1,200 visas have been granted to Indian workers, while work is underway on a partnership agreement aimed at guaranteeing regular and organized migration to Albania.

"As is known, India is a great power in qualified human resources and a large number of Indians work in all parts of the world, especially in the Gulf countries, the United Kingdom, Germany, the European Union and the United States. While in Albania, these figures still remain low.

According to the data, around 1,200 visas were granted to Indian workers last year. However, this shows that the trend is increasing and that steps are being taken in the right direction. It is expected that this number will continue to increase in the future.

On the other hand, work is underway on a partnership agreement with the Albanian government, with the aim of guaranteeing a regular and organized migration of workers from India to Albania.

"Indian workers are known for their dedication, discipline and ability to adapt to the local environment. In this context, it is expected that they will find good working conditions in Albania, while Albanian employers will consider them a valuable asset in the labor market," the ambassador emphasized.

The Ambassador believes that Indian workers represent a significant potential for the Albanian market, thanks to their dedication and ability to adapt to the work environment. In economic terms, there are currently about 18 Indian companies registered in Albania, mainly in the mining sector. However, economic cooperation is still in its development phase, while the authorities are working to increase investments and strengthen the presence of Indian businesses in the country.

"We have had some investments and some companies operating here, mainly in the mining sector. According to information from the National Business Center, it turns out that there are about 18 Indian companies registered in Albania. However, so far we have not managed to establish direct contacts with them and it is not clear how many of them are currently active on the ground."

On the other hand, work is being done to further promote Indian investments in Albania. This is a process that takes time, also due to the fact that the institutional presence is relatively new and economic relations are still in the development phase. It is expected that in the coming years these efforts will yield concrete results, with increased investments and a more visible presence of Indian companies in the Albanian market”, concluded the ambassador.

Authorities are optimistic that in the coming years, relations between Albania and India will further deepen, both economically and culturally./ CNA