“We are working to lower ID card fees for those most in need of support,” stated Minister Demo, describing this as a concrete commitment aimed at serving the public.

On the other hand, the Ministry of the Interior and IdentiTek are working to ensure a faster, simpler and more accessible service. The standard procedure for obtaining an identity document is completed within 10 working days, while the expedited process takes 3 working days.

There are also efforts made on expanding online services—such as online voucher purchases and document tracking—as well as providing home or hospital-based services for citizens with limited mobility, both domestically and abroad. The provision of services for Albanians abroad is also being expanded through special missions in areas with significant Albanian communities that lack consular services; meanwhile, work continues on extending services to other locations in Asia and Australia.

There are also efforts made on technological upgrades and stricter security standards. Alongside National Agency for Information Society and National Cyber Security Authority, the Ministry of Interior is rolling out the Digital ID and designing the passport of the future to meet the upcoming 2030 benchmarks.

“Every improvement we make here must render into something tangible for the citizen: less time, lower costs and better service,” stated Minister Demo. /m.q/r.e/a.f/p.s./

Central bank data show that the banks’ interest income by end of 2023 is estimated at 83.4 billion lek or 22.6 billion lek more than during the same period of the previous year.

In the meantime, the interest expense totaled to around 14 billion lek or 5.1 billion lek more than a year ago.

The non-interest income in 2023 was estimated at around 1.6 billion lek more than 1.5 billion lek recorded a year ago, contributing to the increase in banking sector’s earnings.

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In his remarks, the mayor Veliaj said that, the municipal council has decided to forgive fines imposed on 988 families who after the earthquakes of September 21 and November 26, 2019 began to build without obtaining the permits.

“The decision to forgive fines was taken in October last year, when there were no elections. It is a copy-paste repetition of a decision that we took a year ago,” Veliaj said.

“Today, 40 new schools are being built in Tirana. It will be the first campaign we will get rid of with double-shift schools. Also work has completed on the reconstruction of the dormitories at the Faculty of Civil Engineering. Two dormitories are being built at the Medicine University, eight new dormitories at the Agricultural University that were previously occupied”, mayor Veliaj said. //a.i/