According to the minister, the discussions focused on film co-productions, the creation of new bridges for joint projects, as well as education and professional development through the exchange of experiences and the creation of new opportunities for the new generation of our filmmakers.

Gonxhja emphasized that, “Albania is increasingly consolidating itself as a dynamic meeting point for the global audiovisual industry, where local talent and international experience come together to create art without borders.” /m.q/r.e/p.s./

This visit evaluated current progress and emphasized the investment’s strategic value. It marks a major milestone in developing an advanced defense industry that will boost the economy, generate jobs, and secure the nation’s capabilities.

“Guna Tactical is building a specialized factory for the design and production of clothing and accessories for the Armed Forces, State Police, Prison Police, other security structures, as well as for partners from NATO member countries”, Nufi wrote in a post on social networks.

According to Nufi, this investment is expected to create around 1,200 new jobs, bringing modern technology, advanced expertise and contemporary production standards.

“The project aims to integrate the Albanian defense industry into international supply chains, increasing its competitiveness and strengthening Albania’s position as a reliable partner in the Euro-Atlantic space,” he underlined.

Nufi also stressed that the development of the defense industry is one of the government’s strategic priorities, with the aim of transforming this sector into an important engine of economic development, technological innovation and strengthening national security.

“Such investments demonstrate the commitment to build a stronger, more competitive and closely integrated Albanian defense industry with strategic partners and NATO allies,” Nufi wrote. /p.s./

Industry contracted during the January-March period, with net sales volume falling 3.1% year-on-year, production declining 4.9% and employment down 2.9%. Despite the slowdown, the sector’s wages increased by 7.5%.

The electricity, gas and steam supply sector recorded strong growth across all key indicators. Net sales volume rose 17.6%, while production surged 45% compared with the same period a year earlier.

Employment in the sector increased by 2.1%, while the wage bill rose 13.1%.

The water supply, sewerage and waste management sector also expanded, with net sales volume increasing 15.1% and production rising 5.6%. Employment edged up 0.3%, while the wage bill climbed 18.5%.

Construction maintained its upward momentum in the first quarter, with net sales volume rising 8.6%, production increasing 7.2% and employment growing 5.6%.

The sector’s wage bill rose 22.4% from a year earlier, according to INSTAT.

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The minister said that in the last 9 months, 20 defense industry manufacturing companies have expressed their interest in cooperating with the KAYO, the state-owned military production company “Made in Albania”.

Vengu also said that negotiations with three of them were finalized during June and July.

“We have paved the way for the establishment of three new plants where the state is a shareholder in the production of armored vehicles and civil emergency vehicles, uniforms and personal equipment as well as ammunition”, he emphasized.

Meanwhile, Vengu said that there are ongoing negotiations for the production of light weapons, as well as the assembly of artillery systems, shells and combat drones. /m.m//r.e/p.s./

During a meeting with Socialists of Gramsh, Rama focused on revitalization of the military industry, which he described as another very important step on the path towards Albania 2030.

Rama emphasized that Gramsh has a history, tradition and opportunity, so he assured residents that the work that has begun in this direction will continue.

“We are discussing with different companies about several points in Albania. One of the points where we want to bring a large company to start production and employ workers with very good salaries, we will make it a reality sooner rather than later, is here in Gramsh,” said PM Rama.

The prime minister emphasized that Gramsh is a municipality with a lot of potential, but with few opportunities from the point of view of the municipality’s own budget.

The prime minister emphasized that the government is encouraging support and is aiming to give wings to anyone who will invest in these beautiful territories to open other doors of hospitality.

Rama also promised the completion of several other road segments that will further promote tourism, agro-tourism and the economy by making available all the extraordinary beauties that Gramsh has. /r.e//a.f/p.s./

Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku said in her speech that it is essential to build national cyber resilience and create strong cooperation with our allies and partners.

“If there is a more specific area in which none of us can do it alone, it is definitely security,” said Balluku.

During the last decade, Balluku emphasized, the field of security has been transformed dramatically and along with this change, the requirements for the expansion of our defense industries have also increased.

“Today’s wars are fought not only on the battlefield with conventional weapons, but also in cyberspace, where critical infrastructure, supply lines and defense industries are their preferred targets,” she said.

Albania, Balluku said, has learned a lot from the unprecedented cyber-attack carried out by state-sponsored actors, which targeted its critical information infrastructure and disrupted public services.

“One of the most important things we learned is that, regardless of the size of the country, it is essential to build national cyber resilience and create strong cooperation with our allies and partners. This leads us to the essential issue of the supply chain, which constitutes one of the most serious weaknesses globally”, stated Balluku.

“Global disruptions, ranging from the pandemic to the increasing complexity of industrial and defense supply chains”, underlined Balluku, “have exposed the fragility of these networks”.

“The disruptions and risks to supply chains around the world coincide with NATO’s decision to increase defense funding at the Washington Summit,” she said.

NATO Allies, Balluku added, have taken important steps to strengthen the stability and protection of our defense industries.

According to her, these increased budgets represent not only an investment in military equipment, but also a commitment to ensure the industrial infrastructure that supports them.

“Albania, as a NATO member, has understood the strategic requirement for the creation of a strong defense industry to implement NATO’s deterrence and defense strategy. As a result, Albania has fully aligned with NATO’s New Defense Industry Commitment and has carried out a complete review of strategic documents and the legal framework to address the revival of the defense industry”, stated Balluku. /p.s./

Tola said that the draft law, “On the regulation of the production, trade, research and development of weapons, ammunition, equipment and military technologies” comes as a necessity of geopolitical developments, the conflict in Ukraine and as a commitment of our country to the North Atlantic Alliance (NATO).

“The goal is to revive the military industry, as part of our commitments as a member of NATO. NATO heads of state supported the action plan for increasing the level of stockpiles of weapons and ammunition”, Tola said.

“Actually, there are two draft laws proposed. First, the creation of the state company for the production of weapons, military technologies. And secondly, the the creation of the defense industry agency, as a responsible regulatory structure, part of the Ministry of Defense,” Tola said.

On her part, the Vice Chairwoman of the Laws Committee, the opposition Democratic Party MP Dhurata Çupi opposed the draft law on regulation of the production and trade of weapons, calling it a clientelistic and criminal law.

Deputy Minister Tola said that the law for the restoration of the arms industry has been positively evaluated by the partners and comes as a demand of the time, seeing also Russia’s unprovoked aggression in Ukraine.

“It is in accordance with the commitments we have in the NATO”, said Tola. /p.s./

This event entitled “Industry Day” was aimed at providing information on procurement procedures, legislation and the conditions that economic operators in Albania must meet in order to participate in international procurements, but also to determine cooperation between Albanian businesses and NATO agencies.

During his speech, Minister Peleshi encouraged business representatives to apply and benefit from these projects, expressing on the other hand the readiness of the Ministry of Defense to create appropriate bridges of cooperation between Albanian private operators and representatives of experienced NATO structures.

“The conflicts have increased the demand for weapons, for food or other goods that are procured in these NATO agencies. The conflicts have also brought increased demand and we invite you to take advantage of these contracts. You already have more than 30 years of experience. We have excellent companies that have gained confidence every time they have gone abroad because they have raised the standard”, said the minister of defense.

In this activity that was held at the Innovation Center, Minister Peleshi highlighted some of the projects that are coming to life at this center and that will help businesses.

The minister also spoke about the new initiative for the revitalization of the military industry in the country./r.e/p.s./

The country’s manufacturing has been hit hard by crisis that has substantially affected the domestic and external economic environment as reflected in a sharp decline in exports.

For the sector to recover, it has to improve and update technological processes in use so that it can enhance productivity and competitiveness in the international markets.

Under the decision, the sovereign guarantee fund represents the government’s commitment to cover payments and guarantee for loans to support equipment and machinery purchase, automation of production lines and creation of structural conditions to deliver on full and closed loop Made in Albania manufacturing.

The guarantee fund will also provide liquidity for purchase of raw materials for manufacturing companies.

Based on the government’s support plan, a borrower should submit an application for loan application no later than October 31, 2024, while the deadline will be at the discretion of the Borrower, but in no case exceeding the deadline of seven years in the case of loans for investment and not exceeding in any case the term of three years in the case of loans for the purchase of raw materials.

Under the government decision, the borrower should be registered at the National Business Center, must not be in default on loans and should have settled all tax liabilities by the time of application. The borrower should not be in default on loans with delays of more than 60 days. The value of the loan to be provided under the sovereign guarantee fund may vary in accordance with the request submitted by the entity, but in no case the loans granted under the Guarantee Agreement will not be higher than 100 million lek.

This government instrument to support the footwear and clothing industry is designed to provide more positive and relief terms than the previous guarantee funds approved by the government during the pandemic.

The sovereign guarantee fund will cover around 70% of the bank loans due to be provided by the banking system with a margin of 1.5 or 2%, for a “grace period” of about 9 months.

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“Albania was one of the most militarized countries in the world, if not the most militarized, during the communist period. We used to spend up to 25% of the GDP on the military, on defense. We have gone through a national paranoia which supported this extreme militarization”, said Peleshi.

“Then, in 1990 communism fell. We inherited a stock, a rather large reserve of ammunition, weapons, military equipment and infrastructure, which the reformed and reduced army could cot carry”, emphasized Peleshi.

“More than 30 years have passed, I can still say that a large part not only of ammunition, but of infrastructure is a burden; it is an issue to be solved, a challenge to be addressed, to adapt to the new strategies and capacities that the Armed Forces have in fulfillment and in accordance with the objectives of the largest military and political Alliance in which we are a proud part, the NATO”, said Peleshi.

“We started with the support of the USA, OSCE and NATO a period of demilitarization; so, we went to the other extreme, the demilitarization of this even dangerous reserve, since the army was reduced and the their preservation, maintenance, guarantee, security became a challenge in itself, unaffordable, which also posed a threat to the security of our citizens”, added Peleshi.

“Today, the Ministry of Defense has in its composition as a legacy also 3 state enterprises that make up what is called the former military industry of the Republic of Albania. The former, because they are now dormant, they are not in production”, said Peleshi.

“Since 2 years ago after the Russian aggression in Ukraine, the geopolitical situation has changed; the security architecture in the world has changed. Unfortunately, the hotbeds of conflict are igniting like a domino effect one after the other and we are today in a period when peace is more threatened than ever”, said Peleshi.

“Albania, like all the other allied countries, has an obligation to increase operational capacities and the level of reserves with ammunition and weapons to respond to the constant changes in the security situation. Under these conditions, the revival of the military industry is a strategic goal”, underlined Minister Peleshi.

“The revitalization will be a process that aims to promote innovation and technological development, through collaboration with internationals, private actors or allied and partner states”, said the minister.

Also, Peleshi said that, “During the government meeting yesterday we approved the law, which will soon come to the Parliament, for the payments of employees and former employees of the Poliçan Mechanical Plant. We have passed a special law to recognize and pay these obligations, the history of the region while respecting its cultural and environmental integrity and promoting economic opportunities for the local communities involved”./r.e/p.s./