The winners of this race in the Elite Category were Olsion Veliaj (Tirana Club, first place with a time of 49’30”), Ardit Kraja (Vllaznia Club, second place with a time of 51’25”) and Marolina Hascha (Tirana Club, third place with a time of 54’28”).

Women Category: Irma Termali of Vllaznia with a time of 28’57”.

This activity was organized in cooperation with Tirana Regional Council, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports as well as the KOKSH (Albanian National Olympic Committee). /m.q/j.p/p.s./

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Anila Denaj shared images from this agrotourism in the social media. She highlighted the fact that the food consumed on the farm is taken directly from the resort’s greenhouses and the surrounding lands, to be cooked into carefully prepared dishes that reflect the philosophy of living as close to nature as possible.

“Beyond the experience the visitors get, this entrepreneurial model has revitalized the local economy. There are employed local residents in agriculture, culinary and service while the resort has got transformed into a sustainable source of development”, added Denaj.

The government providing facilities and support for agrotourism has led to the increase of such oases across the country in recent years, creating a new experience for many visitors, but also a new economic model in rural areas. /p.s./

Rama stated that, “The meeting place was an agro-tourism built by a couple who have returned from emigration and have made a significant successful investment which a decade ago would have been inconceivable”.

Here, Rama added, there were actually 2-3 people who opened a few doors, but which barely survived; while today opening an agrotourism in the suburbs of Tirana is a very meaningful investment in terms of success.

Likewise, Rama continued, “The entire development of the capital and its entire transformation into a tourist destination has led to an increase in the number of hospitality doors which such a thing requires a significant increase in all domestic products.”

Speaking about domestic production, Rama stated that, “When we took office, the ratio between domestic products that were exported and imported products was 1 to 9. So, we exported 1 and imported 9, which means that our need for food was based mainly on imports. Today, we export 1 and import 3. Which means that there is a much greater presence of domestic production in the market and there is a significant reduction in imported products”.

“It is a ratio that we must continue to improve and it will improve”, emphasized Rama, but he added, “It is very important to say and understand that any investment that is made in the capital, in the urban areas of the capital seems to have no connection with what happens here; but, as a matter of fact, there is a direct connection and any improvement that is made to the city’s organism at any point affects the entire organism”. /j.p/p.s./

“We made a choice that may seem unusual to many, but for us it was the choice of a lifetime. After spending years in Switzerland living a safe and comfortable life, we realized that our country had something that we could not find anywhere else, the feeling of being at home”, said Fatjon.

“We followed our hearts and decided to invest in our Albania not only for ourselves and our future, but also for our children”, said Erjola.

“Today, we have established the “Muza” agrotourism in Petrela, an oasis that combines nature, tradition and Albanian hospitality. Every day, together with my family, we work, not only to develop our “Muza”, but also to inspire others who want to invest in Albania. This is not just a business for us, but a way to preserve tradition and create opportunities for the community and on the other hand contribute to the economic development of the Petrela area”, said Fatjoni.

“Nothing in the world replaces the feeling of living and working in your land, next to your people, so work and live where your heart is, in Albania”, said Erjola. /r.e//a.f/p.s./

Rama appreciated Maksim from Petrela as another positive example of successful enterprises, that thanks to his hard work and support from the government through the IPARD program, he has set up this greenhouse where he produces up to 500,000 seedlings per year, contributing to increasing quality in addition to quantity.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Frida Krifca visited the greenhouse and said that, “This is a successful year in terms of the volume of exports”.

The farmer emphasized that, “I see a very good perspective. We come on the market much earlier than North Macedonia and Serbia”.

The minister announced the launch of a program with the Agricultural University of Tirana where the strength of expertise is being treated to be more up-to-date with the most innovative techniques of the time, but also with farmers.

“We have trained up to 2,000 farmers in all fields and we will continue this year as well”, said Krifca./p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama shared in the social media moments from another air sport that will promote adventure tourism in Petrela, a village in the municipality of Tirana.

Rama said that, “This is a new opportunity to explore the fabulous nature as we have never seen in the suburbs of Tirana”.

Here’s another kind of adventure tourism that is coming to life in Petrela, through air sports in “Zipline Albania”; a new opportunity to explore the fabulous nature as we have never seen in the suburbs of Tirana “, said Rama.

“Zipline Albania”, the first of its kind in Albania is both the largest in the region and the longest zipline in the Balkans. It ranks among the 10 largest zipline stations in Europe.

This adventure experience offers the unique combination of the panorama of Petrela Castle, the magnificent greenery and flight over the Erzen River./p.s./

Fanaj’s contribution to the construction and restoration of many schools and public facilities in the capital was invaluable. After the devastating earthquake of 2019, this school has been rebuilt from scratch according to the best contemporary conditions.

Attending the inauguration event was Minister of Education, Sports and Youth Evis Kushi, Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj, the SP MP Xhemal Qefalia, family members of Feti Fanaj, representatives of local authorities, teachers, parents and numerous students.

In her greeting speech, Minister Kushi initially said that there is no greater joy and enthusiasm than to see that in an area far from the center of Tirana to have a school with such contemporary standards.

“Not only a new school, but a bigger, more beautiful, stronger and safer school, with laboratories and sports grounds. With all the amenities, the school is an investment of the Albanian government that the wonderful students of this area deserve “, said Kushi, expressing a heartfelt thanks to the municipality of Tirana and its Mayor, who, in addition to many duties and responsibilities in the other fields such as road infrastructure, environment, drinking water, etc., have given a very special attention to education and school infrastructure./m.m//a.a/p.s./

Initially, Selion started up his farm business with 20 goats. The government financial support has been a further impetus for his business expansion.

The 41-year-old has multiplied the number of heads and today the farm has 170 small head. It aims to create the closed cycle of activity, build a modern stable and facilities for milk processing and production of goat cheese, recently showing high demand in the market.

“I get about 130 liters of milk a day from the farm and produce 15 to 20 kg of goat cheese. The cheese is natural with a special taste, otherwise known as nape cheese, “Selion told the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA). //a.i/