Prime Minister Edi Rama highlighted today the example of an olive processing plant in the village of Dushk, Belsh, which exports its products to many countries around the world.

With 25 years of experience, a commitment to Albanian quality and products that reach beyond national borders, “Sagelo Olive” continues to expand in both domestic and international markets, bringing Albanian olive products to countries across the globe.

Entrepreneur Sami Debrova specifically acknowledges the support provided by the ARDA, which assisted in upgrading his processing machinery.

“We have been working in the olive sector—specifically in olive processing—for over 25 years. We operate under the ‘Sagelo Olive’ brand in many countries, primarily in the Americas and Europe, while also serving the domestic market. Last year, we applied to the ARDA and secured this machinery. It has been a major breakthrough for us, as we are now able to produce higher-quality, superior products,” said Debrova, while also explaining the olive processing procedure. /m.m/j.p/r.e/p.s./

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reported that at the collection point in Zharrnec, there was carried out today the phytosanitary certification process, following controls carried out by the inspector of the National Veterinary and Plant Protection Authority.

During the verification, there was checked the phytosanitary purity of the products, ensuring that they meet the requirements and standards of the host countries. After completing the procedures, there was issued the Phytosanitary Certificate, the document attached to the products during export.

This process is an important link in ensuring the safety of agricultural products, protecting plant health and expanding Albanian exports to regional and European markets.

Divjaka continues to be one of the most important watermelon production areas in the country, contributing to the increased presence of “Made in Albania” products in foreign markets. /e.xh/a.f/p.s./

In the areas of Cakran, Frakull, and Kafaraj, strawberry cultivation surfaces have expanded significantly in recent years, with farmers investing in modern greenhouses and advanced cultivation technologies.

As the strawberry season reaches its peak and local markets are supplied, a team from the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) captured images from the fields that have become a defining feature of the landscape. Travelers heading south via Levan can hardly miss the extensive greenhouses dedicated to strawberry production.

According to data from the Fier Agriculture Directorate, approximately 130 hectares of strawberries are currently cultivated within the Fier municipality, distributed across around 250 farms. Average yields reach 600 quintals per hectare, reflecting improvements in cultivation techniques and agricultural practices adopted by farmers.

The bulk of production is concentrated in the Frakull administrative unit, where around 110 hectares are under cultivation, making it one of the main production hubs for strawberries in the region.

Statistics show a steady year-on-year increase in cultivated areas, while this year’s yields are reported to be higher compared to 2025, thanks to favorable climatic conditions and the adoption of more advanced farming methods.

A significant share of production is directed toward export markets.

Official data indicate that around 60% of strawberries produced in Fier are exported, mainly to regional countries and the European Union, increasing farmers’ income and strengthening the sector’s role in the national economy.

The continued expansion of this crop, combined with rising demand for “Made in Albania” products, is turning strawberries into one of the most promising agricultural sectors for sustainable development and export growth.

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According to the foreign trade report published by the Institute of Statistics in February 2026, in February 2026, the value of exports was ALL 30.9 billion, increasing by 2.8 % compared with the same period of the previous year and by 15.8 % compared with January 2026.

According to INSTAT, in the annual increase of exports this month, a positive contribution was given by the groups: “Mineral, fuels, electricity” with +6.3 percentage points and “Machinery, equipment and spare parts” with +0.7 percentage points.

Growth is mainly fueled by beneficial energy costs and increased exports of mechanical and electronic components.

Meanwhile, several key sectors of the economy continued to show weakness.

Several sectors dragged down the overall figure, led by ‘Food, beverages, and tobacco’ at -2.1 percentage points, followed by ‘Textiles and footwear’ at -1.1 and ‘Construction materials and metals’ at -0.9 percentage points.

The decline in the food sector is also related to the damage caused by floods, which affected agricultural production, especially greenhouses. /j.p/p.s./

Minister Salla also said that seven laboratories are to be established across Albania to strengthen food safety monitoring. Five laboratories will also be built at border points to guarantee greater control over exports and imports.

The laboratories will cover the main agricultural areas, including the regions of Fier, Korça, Vlora and Kukës.

Minister Salla also spoke about special support for the bee sector, aiming to increase the number of hives from over 600 thousand to 1 million. /a.f/r.e/p.s./

Tabaku explained that the increase in the minimum wage has increased social insurance, creating a 30% burden for the employers and employees in this sector.

According to the MP, Albania is the only country in the region that pays taxes of 8-15% on inputs, which increases the costs of products and makes them difficult to export.

Likewise, Tabaku pointed at the depreciation of the euro which has brought catastrophic consequences for the Albanian economy.

Tabaku concluded that the façon sector, agriculture and other industries are in crisis, employees are paid less, while numerous businesses are forced to close or leave the country.

Therefore, Tabaku said that together with a group of colleagues they will propose a concrete package of measures to save the sector from the crisis and to support the export of Albanian products. /m.q/j.p/p.s./

Ibrahimaj also took the opportunity to point to the opposition that, “During last week since the publication of INSTAT figures on foreign trade, it has presented an unfair and unreal scheme of what is actually happening in the economy”.

Minister Ibrahimaj stated that, “Services constitute 84.8% of total exports. Services dominate the export market, driven primarily by a surge in tourism and foreign visitors in recent years. In 2025, there were over 12 million foreign tourists who came to Albania”.

According to her, the goods represent 15.2% of all exports.

“In total, exports increased by 6.26% during the first 9 months of 2025, according to data provided from INSTAT and the Banks of Albania,” Ibrahimaj said.

She said that, “Given that the weight of exports of services is significantly greater than the weight of exports of goods, in total, the exports resulted in a positive growth of 6.26%.”/k.s/r.e/a.f/p.s./

The police also arrested two inspectors of Berat Food Authority because during the control they carried out at this business, they did the procedure in a fictitious manner.

Berat Police Directorate said in a press release that the analyses showed that the tomatoes had “Chlorfenapyr” above the permitted norms, 0.06 mg/kg from 0.01 mg/kg which should be.

Prosecutor’s Office in Berat seized and took samples for analysis of various suspected contaminated products such as tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers found at the “Era Fruit” business. /m.q/ /a.g/p.s./

Denaj stated that this sector is orienting Albanian exports towards elite international markets, creating a sustainable source of income and jobs for hundreds of people engaged in the cycle of planting, collection and processing.

“According to official data, the exports of medicinal and aromatic herbs have marked an increase of 9% in the period January-June 2025, confirming the positive trend and long-term potential of this sector,” said the minister.

In addition to the economic impact, the plots of medicinal herbs are becoming new attractions for tourists, helping to develop rural tourism and its combination with sustainable agriculture.

This development is in line with the Ministry of Agriculture’s vision for “Agriculture 2030”, which aims at the European integration of the sector, strengthening domestic production and promoting innovation in agriculture. /j.p/p.s./

“Albanian viticulture and the production of quality wines have become a key sector for rural economic development and a symbol of the ‘Made in Albania’ brand,” said Minister Denaj.

Albanian wines are experiencing a surge in popularity, gaining recognition and acceptance in elite international markets, receiving prestigious awards and worldwide recognitions, affirming their place among the well-known global brands.

This development confirms a qualitative transformation in the agriculture and agro-processing sector, which is increasingly reflecting the export potential of Albanian products in European and world markets. /a.f/p.s./