TIRANA, Nov 11 /ATA/ Albania is undertaking concrete measures to enhance the competitiveness of its agri-food sector and to position it for integration into European and global markets.
The 3rd National Forum on Quality and Standards was held today in Tirana, organized by UNIDO in collaboration with the Albanian Agribusiness Council (KASH). The forum emphasized the importance of quality and traceability as essential drivers for export success and integration into the European Union.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Andis Salla, stated that Albania is transitioning from policy formulation to implementation, with a focus on the digitalization of product verification. He emphasized, “Traceability serves as the digital passport for Albanian farmers to reach European consumers,” highlighting that transparency and product origin constitute essential guarantees for access to the European Union single market.
On behalf of Switzerland, the principal partner in this process, Ambassador Ruth Huber emphasized that quality is not merely a technical requirement but the foundation of trust between Albanian producers and European consumers. She added that Switzerland will continue to support Albania in aligning its standards with European Union legislation.
In this context, the Agricultural University of Tirana, in collaboration with UNIDO, is finalizing a new master’s program focused on standards and quality systems. Rector Fatbardh Sallaku described this initiative as a strategic step aimed at preparing specialists to lead the transformation of the agricultural sector.
The Chairman of the Albanian Agribusiness Council (KASH), Agim Rrapaj, underscored the importance of cooperation between the public and private sectors to safeguard food quality and safety, with the objective of facilitating Albania’s accession to the European Union by 2030.
The forum, held concurrently with the 5th Congress of KASH, brought together representatives from public institutions, the business community, and international partners to share experiences and define strategic priorities for the development of a robust quality infrastructure, aimed at facilitating exports and advancing Albania’s economic integration into Europe. e.xh/j.p/sm/
