TIRANA, May 8 /ATA/ Prime Minister Edi Rama emphasized on Friday that technological advancements, coupled with government support for young innovators, are creating significant opportunities for Albanian youth to develop startup ventures.
Speaking at a meeting in Elbasan with talented young women and men—winners of the 2025 startup program and applicants for 2026—the Prime Minister highlighted that the number of applications for the startup initiative has reached a record 1,216 submissions.
“Today, what until recently might have seemed inconceivable has become a reality: any young person in Albania can work for companies anywhere in the world without leaving their home—whether in Tirana, Elbasan, or a remote village—provided they have a computer and internet access. Furthermore, they can earn substantially more working remotely than they would if they relocated abroad to perform the same work for an international employer,” stated Prime Minister Rama.
“Today, this reality is expanding rapidly, engaging young men and women, as technology provides tools that they grasp and master far more quickly than others,” Prime Minister Rama continued.
Rama stated that “the tripling of applications for the ‘Startup Albania’ program, launched several years ago and now recognized as a reliable initiative, reflects the broad dissemination of information during this period. The program has attracted significant interest, resulting in a record 1,219 applications for financial support ranging from €15,000 to €45,000, and for well-established projects, up to €90,000.”
“These are not loans, but grants provided by the Albanian government to those who present an innovative idea with the potential to establish a small company and eventually scale it into a larger enterprise. Today, we are in Elbasan, which also holds additional potential through its vocational school, with 1,400 students, representing a significant talent pool for a city like Elbasan and a valuable resource for cultivating the next generation of technology innovators,” Prime Minister Rama stated.
According to Rama, without the power of technology, the process of scaling ideas into service and employment opportunities would remain an unattainable utopia using traditional development methods.
Prime Minister Rama highlighted the rapid pace of technological progress, noting that while innovations can still be understood and replicated, keeping up with them has become increasingly difficult. He emphasized that humanity has shifted from centuries of steady, linear growth to an era of exponential advancement. Once, developing a new smartphone took nearly a year, with consumers waiting until September for the next release. Today, however, breakthroughs unveiled at the beginning of the week risk becoming obsolete by its end.”
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