Prime Minister Edi Rama participated today in a discussion forum organized by the Bank of Albania on agricultural financing, where a €250 million bank financing line will be allocated to support investments in greenhouses, agro-processing, agritourism, and technological innovation to boost rural development.

In his speech, the head of government stated that this process began some time ago.

“With the Bank of Albania’s decision to open a new, innovative €250 million financing line for small and medium-sized enterprises, with a focus on agriculture, and the agreement signed between the central bank and second-tier banks, this initiative will be implemented to support projects and investments in the agricultural sector as a priority,” Rama said.

He emphasized that this marks a significant qualitative leap for the sector and the country, considering two key aspects:

“Firstly, we have set an extremely ambitious goal: by 2030, Albania’s agricultural exports should reach €1 billion. We have already quadrupled them, as today we are above €500 million in exports, compared to just over €100 million when we took office. Achieving the €1 billion objective requires greater sectoral strength, increased capacity for farmers, and this added strength will come through investments and the expansion of rural enterprises.”

However, Rama also highlighted the challenge of competitiveness and the need to adapt to higher regulations and standards, describing it as a major challenge.

The Prime Minister also referred to the “Mountain Package”, which aims to facilitate investments in rural areas across Albania.

“Once approved by the Parliament, the ‘Mountain Package’ will create a new level of ease regarding collateral requirements, enabling all those who wish to invest in rural Albania to secure full guarantees for their investments through a streamlined process,” Rama stated.