Rama, ultimatum to mayors/ "10 agrotourism and 3 SHBB or no longer run"

2026-04-25 12:42:00, Aktualitet CNA

Rama, ultimatum to mayors/ "10 agrotourism and 3 SHBB or no longer

Prime Minister Edi Rama has chosen Dibra to give a clear message to local leaders that the development of agritourism and the creation of United Agricultural Societies are a condition for their political survival. During the meeting with Dibra farmers, the head of government presented the new model of cooperatives according to the European style, describing them as the only way to survive in the European Union market.

During this meeting, Rama also addressed the mayors, saying that through the Mountain Package, they must establish 10 agrotourism businesses and 3 United Societies, or else they will no longer have to run.

"The problem is no longer with money, it is with the project and the application. We have increased support and in a few days we will also sign the agreement with the Bank of Albania and we will make available to all those who want to double their entrepreneurship a low-interest credit line with a guarantee abroad. No one has an alibi, not even the mayors. I have told the mayors, if you do not build 10 agrotourism with the Mountain Package and 3 United Societies, do not even pretend to run for office anymore. They are not municipalities, they only pave roads, install lights and clean up garbage. Municipalities must be allies of farmers", said Rama.

Focusing on the organization of farmers, Rama mocked skeptics who compare these societies to former communist cooperatives. He emphasized that the European Union functions through the union of producers, where each remains the owner of his land, but the sale and price negotiation are done as a single body.

As a concrete example of this vision, the "Dibra Origin" company has been created in Dibra, where the municipality is a shareholder alongside cherry farmers.

The farmers explained that this merger will give them access to IPARD funds for packaging and processing technology, while Rama announced that a low-interest credit line will soon be launched.

The meeting in Dibër was held as part of the "Works of Albania" tour, with a focus on increasing food security and standardizing domestic production before full integration into the European family./ CNA