1. Liberal Investment Climate – the Albanian government is eager to increase direct foreign investments, allowing 100% ownership for foreign companies. Albania is committed to developing a stable business climate, implementing reforms, investing in infrastructure, and reducing national debt.
2. Competitive Labor Cost – Albania has one of the most competitive rates of wages in the region, with minimum monthly wages around 250 Euro and average monthly wages under 450 Euros. Requirements are competitive for income and social security tax and overtime pay.
3. Young and Well-Educated Population – 47% of Albania’s population is under 35 years old, with over 120,000 students enrolled at Albanian universities.
4. Competitive Taxation and Incentives – Albania has an innovative tax system compared with most EU countries facilitating online business registration and tax payments. New businesses can be registered online in 24 hours for a small fee (the 1 Euro contract scheme). Albania also provides incentives for sectors such as energy, tourism, agrotourism, manufacturing, agriculture, aquaculture and Technology and Economic Development Areas (TEDA).
5. Optimal Geographic Location – Albania is strategically located within the Balkan region, acts as a bridge between northern and southern Europe, and is connected to European markets through ports along the Adriatic and Ionian seas. Albania boasts three UNESCO World Heritage sites and has 362 kilometers of coastline. The climate is typical for the Mediterranean region with up to 300 sunny days per year.
6. Strong Growth Potential – the Albanian economy is rebounding quickly from the pandemic and offers a wide range of public-private investment opportunities.
7. Free Access to Large Markets – Albania has signed free trade agreements with key markets within the region, offering customs-free access. Albania is a member of the UN, NATO and is a candidate for membership in the EU.
8. Macroeconomic Stability – The macroeconomic situation in Albania is characterized by stable prices and exchange rates and has experienced relatively low inflation of 1% to 3% for more than a decade. The unemployment rate is still high, but moving lower, reaching 11.7% in 2020.
9. English is Widely Spoken – approximately 60% of the younger generation speaks English well with an accent that is easy for Americans to understand. 40% of the population speaks at least one foreign language well, with Italian and Greek also spoken widely.