Work at the “Arena e Demave” stadium is on track, featuring a new hybrid pitch that meets international standards. Crews have removed the old artificial turf, rebuilt the foundation, and added a modern irrigation system. Natural grass and hybrid turf will soon be installed, with the field expected to host official matches in a few months.

As work on the stadium progresses, the Albanian Football Association is also upgrading the two training fields at the “Arena e Demave” complex. These fields will support teams during the 2027 U-21 European Championship and boost local football over the long term.

This project is part of a wider Albanian Football Association program to update national sports facilities, meet UEFA standards, and provide modern spaces for international matches, local events, and player training. /p.s./

During this year, there are planned a total of 20 auctions through which the Bank of Albania intends to purchase 250-330 million Euros by the end of 2024.

The auctions will start from mid-February and will continue until December 20. The purchase amount in each auction will range from 5 to 10 million Euros.

Purchases of foreign currency by the Bank of Albania are carried out in function of foreign exchange reserve management.

For 2023, the initial auction calendar envisaged purchases that could range from 160 million Euros to a maximum value of 220 million Euros. But, in response to the strong devaluation of the euro during the summer season, which marked a tourism boom for Albania, the Bank of Albania increased the amount purchased to between 220 and 300 million Euros./p.s./

“Today, Albania is approaching half a billion Euros in exports. Albania, half a billion Euros in agricultural exports that were not even imagined 6-7 years ago. The exports consist of products of Albania, produced by the working people here. And the money goes to these people. Don’t forget that the village is tax-free in Albania. There is no tax for land, no tax for production, no tax for anything, at all, and here in this area, the potentials are extraordinary”, emphasized Rama.

“The medicinal herbs are there, a real wealth. It is not like the tomato that you will plant, cultivate, take care all the time. The medicinal herbs don’t need watering, irrigation or anything, just go collect and collect, package and sell. Of course, this is a process that needs some things that not everyone can do, but it is available there. It’s on the mountain and there’s an incredible income, and we have our country full of medicinal herbs. The people who are involved in medicinal herbs make huge profits. It’s a job where the more you collect, the more money you make. It is full, never ending”, Rama emphasized.

“We will do our best to support the sector with facilitating funding and especially the young people who want to enter that path, but have no opportunity, said the prime minister.

Regarding the Innovation Center, Rama said that there is one in Korça.

“It will be 20 minutes away or a little more from here, that is, Korça and Erseka will have one line as an urban line. In fact, a 20-minute distance is not long in a big European city with urban areas. It is the center of innovation, it can be used”, he emphasized./p.s./

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that thanks to the IPARD II program, there were signed 144 contracts for the development of agricultural mechanics and the improvement of work processes on the farm.

The Agency for Agriculture and Rural Development has supported the farmers in improving agricultural technologies and mechanization of farms by financing tractors and agricultural aggregates, such as tractors for carrying out agro-technical works in greenhouses and vineyards, equipment for planting, ploughing and spraying pumps.

These devices have significantly increased the quality and yield of production in planted areas, in reducing labor costs, as well as increasing employment, influencing the growth of the rural economy.

The improvement of mechanization in agriculture, in addition to support with grants, is also strongly supported by the free-tax oil scheme.

For two years, the government has been applying tax-free oil supply to farmers, relieving them of high costs and expanding the areas planted with agricultural crops. /j.p/p.s./

“The projections we have shared about spending are staggering. There are 7 very difficult months ahead of us. For Albania, this means in the best case, nearly half a billion Euros that will go to maintain the system, continue the energy supply and support consumers”, said the prime minister at the joint conference at the end of the proceedings of the “Open Balkan” summit.

Rama said that, “This winter is likely to be the most difficult winter we have encountered in all these years and here in the Balkans, in all our countries, it is not that we have experienced easy winters”.

“Today, as we speak, there are hours of electricity cuts in Kosovo. This is a fact. But, in the meantime, even in countries such as Great Britain, France, Germany, there are presented plans to cut electricity, plans that include turning off the lights after 10:00 in the evening in the streets, shop windows, i.e. closing all activities of restaurants, bars, and clubs. In other words, it’s to shut down life at 10:00 the same as during the pandemic to save electricity,” said Rama.

The prime minister emphasized that during the summit it was discussed on how to ease this crisis for the citizens of the respective countries by cooperating with each other.

“It is not an agreement in principle, but to take concrete steps”, he added.

Rama said that, “In Albania, we have made a decision not to change the price of electricity for family consumers and small businesses”.

“I don’t know if it’s an ambitious plan, or a crazy one. Today, we continue to have the same price we had before the energy crisis appeared. This means hundreds of millions of Euros coming out of the state coffers to cover costs and expenses. And here it is not a matter of hundreds of millions in Albania or billions in Serbia, but how long this story will continue. You may have the money, but there may be nowhere to find the energy to buy it, so we need this cooperation”, said Rama./r.e/p.s./

The Bank of Albania-BoA announced on Friday that, in January-April of this year the new deposits in euro reached 2.94 billion euros, marking an increase of almost 20% compared to the same period last year.

According to the Bank of Albania, total foreign currency deposits at the end of April amounted to ALL 605 billion, showing an annual increase of 8%.

At the end of April, foreign currency deposits accounted for 53.6% of total bank deposits and among them the euro continues to remain the preferred currency of Albanians to keep their savings. //a.i/

According to the BoA, this was the second auction for June, after the one held on June 7, when the Bank of Albania bought another 6.4 million Euros.

Foreign currency purchases by the Bank of Albania are made for the purpose of foreign exchange reserve management and are not intended to affect the exchange rate.

However, with the new regulation, which has entered into force this current year, the Bank of Albania may invite foreign exchange bureaus to auctions to exert appreciating pressure on the euro exchange rate against the lek.

Experts explain the strengthening of the lek during this period mainly by the seasonal factor. The summer season brings an increase in foreign exchange supply in the market, mainly related to tourism. /j.p/p.s./