In his address, Minister Salla underscored that FAO continues to be a reliable partner in advancing sustainable agricultural development in Albania.

He noted that the OCOP collaboration is turning the country’s experience into a model of success, integrating biological control of the Asian chestnut gall wasp with forest management and promoting tourism via the “Chestnut Route” in Nikaj-Mërtur, thereby boosting the rural economy and creating more sustainable value chains for specialty agricultural products.

The area is famed for its chestnut forests surrounding villages such as Lekbibaj and Markaj, where chestnut cultivation is also an integral part of the local economy.

This Albanian experience is being recognized as an international best practice, contributing to biodiversity conservation, rural development, and the promotion of unique traditional products.
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