Albania Investment Council Celebrates 10 Years of Constructive Public-Private Dialogue

The Albania Investment Council (IC) marked its 10th anniversary today, with a high-profile event gathering over 100 attendants from government officials, parliamentarians, and international partners, and business leaders. The event, opened by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Ms Belinda Balluku, provided an opportunity to reflect on a decade of impactful public-private dialogue dedicated to enhancing Albania’s business climate.

Since its establishment in 2015, the Council, supported by the EBRD, with initial funding from the Italian Government through CEI, and, since 2019, from the Swiss government through the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), has driven tangible change. The platform has tackled real business issues, delivering over 350 actionable recommendations that have led to measures that have simplified tax inspections, digitised VAT refunds, streamlined public services, and improved MSME access to finance.

Deputy Prime Minister Balluku thanked in her speech all members and partners for their long-term engagement. She highlighted that the Council has evolved into a key instrument uniting government, business, and international partners to address shared challenges. “Business remains our main partner,” she emphasized, “and the Council plays an essential role in strengthening cooperation and ensuring that every issue is approached with professionalism and a clear focus on building a competitive and sustainable economy.”

Ms Ekaterina Solovova, EBRD Head of Albania, emphasized the reasons for the enduring value of the IC: the Albanian government’s commitment and proactive involvement in implementing reforms; the private sector’s trust and active participation which grounds proposals in reality; the Secretariat’s dedication to analytical rigour and impartiality ensuring evidence-based recommendations; and the role of international partners in enhancing accountability and transparency.

H.E. Ms Ruth Huber, Ambassador of Switzerland, said: “I am glad that since 2019, Switzerland has supported the IC through SECO. It serves as a trusted broker and continues to be a platform where government institutions, business associations, social partners, and international stakeholders come together to improve Albania’s business climate”. Switzerland encourages a gradual transition to full local ownership and sustainable financing of the platform, while reaffirming its commitment to support Albania’s socio-economic development through the upcoming Swiss Cooperation Programme 2026–2028.

IC Private sector members, Ms Ines Muçostepa (Union of Chambers of Commerce and Industry), Mr Grant Van Cleve (AmCham Albania), and Mr Davide Rogai (Confindustria Albania), praised the Council for turning dialogue into action, highlighting its concrete impact in improving cooperation, shaping more effective policies, and fostering a more competitive business environment.
As Albania continues its path toward EU integration, the Council’s role in fostering trust, transparency, and evidence-based policymaking remains essential.