It seems that German businesses aren’t having the best experience in terms of their investments in Albania, but the opposite is true in their relations with Albanians. In a survey conducted by German companies that have invested in the Western Balkans conducted by the Institute for International Economic Studies of Vienna, showed that 33% of the survey participants in Albania, said that they are unhappy with their general experience working in Albania, as opposed to only 8% in North Macedonia, 11% in Serbia and 20% in Bosnia-Hercegovina.

Albania and Bosnia-Hercegovina are currently the two countries, where investors feel less content. North Macedonia is ranked on top of the list rated by German investors as most preferred in terms of its business climate. 33% of the survey respondents were very happy with the general experience of working in North Macedonia, 22% were very happy in Serbia, whereas only 16 and 17% were positive, respectively for Bosnia-Hercegovina and Albania.

German investors believe that the weak points of the Western Balkans are instability as well as weak governments and institutions. A more extensive survey conducted with businesses in Germany, has found that the Balkans region isn’t attracting more German investors, specifically because of weak governments in their countries.

In addition, when it comes to making business, German investors rated Albania as the worst, in terms of foreign investment. However, when it comes to human relations, their sentiments switch up quite a bit.

“If you live there for a long time, you can feel yourself getting very familiarized. And, Albania is an especially beautiful country. The people are very warm, and interesting,” stated one of the German businessmen that is currently conducting his activity in Albania.

Its geographic position is a great advantage for Albania.

In the last 15 years, the Balkans’ strategy in terms of attracting foreign investors was mainly based on low cost and the availability of a cheap working force, low taxes and incentives for zero-investments.

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