TIRANA, Feb 11 /ATA/ – Tirana will become a hub of regional dialogue on Feb. 18 as the Albanian capital hosts the Corridor VIII Ministerial, reaffirming the strategic importance of one of the region’s key infrastructure and geopolitical projects.
The meeting is set to take place at the Palace of Brigades and will bring together delegations from Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Italy and Romania, as well as representatives of partner countries.
According to the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the talks aim to deepen intergovernmental cooperation and speed up the development of Corridor VIII as a strategic transport artery supporting economic growth and security, while strengthening regional integration and links with major European networks.
The plenary session, titled “Corridor VIII at Europe’s Strategic Juncture: Connectivity, Resilience through Military Mobility and Shared Prosperity through Integration,” will highlight the corridor’s role as a strategic pillar linking economic, security and regional connectivity priorities in support of shared prosperity.
Participants are expected to adopt a joint declaration at the end of the meeting. The programme also includes bilateral talks and a joint news conference.
An Economic Forum on Corridor VIII will be held alongside the ministerial under the theme “From Strategic Link to Regional Economic Growth: The Economic Potential of Corridor VIII”. The forum will take place at the Bank of Albania (Building No. 2, former Hotel Dajti).
The event will bring together public authorities, European institutions, international financial institutions and business representatives to advance discussions on economic development, connectivity and investment along the corridor.
Talks will focus on trade facilitation and industrial development aimed at boosting regional competitiveness.
The forum also seeks to mobilize European and international financing instruments and produce concrete recommendations to turn Corridor VIII into a catalyst for investment, growth and regional economic integration.
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