TIRANA, May 7 /ATA/ – A meeting with winners of Albania’s 2025 national startup programme and new applicants for 2026 was held in Elbasan on Friday, showcasing innovative projects in technology and the digital economy.
The event highlighted the rapid growth of Albania’s tech ecosystem, which now includes around 3,300 registered companies and more than 21,000 professionals working in information technology and innovation.
Prime Minister Edi Rama attended the event, praising the sector’s expansion and its role in creating new opportunities for young people.
He said the central Albanian city of Elbasan already hosts 27 schools equipped with smart laboratories, enabling students to engage with coding and technology from an early age.
The government head stressed that technology was reshaping the labour market and allowing young people to work from Albania for global markets, calling it a key moment in the country’s digital transformation.
He encouraged persistence in the face of failure, saying setbacks should be used as lessons for future success, and urged young entrepreneurs to develop resilience in a highly competitive global environment.
“Success in this field is the exception, not the rule,” Rama said, adding that building successful startups requires ambition, sacrifice and determination.
He also urged participants to aim high in the technology sector, noting that global success stories such as building “unicorn” companies are possible but require exceptional effort.
Concluding the event, Rama called on participants to help transform Elbasan into a recognised centre for startups and innovation, where young people can build livelihoods locally while remaining connected to global opportunities.
/a.f/u.sh/
