The podcast was focused on the story of returning from abroad to continue their paths here in Albania.

“Drilon was settled in his village of Vajkal, Bulqiza, where he has set up a facility for the collection and subsequent processing of medicinal plants. Meanwhile, Ergi and Enso have returned from Austria and Germany,” said Rama.

During his conversation with PM Rama, Drilon spoke about his journey from Italy to establishing a business focused on collecting and processing medicinal and aromatic plants.

“Drilon left for Italy in 2003 and, after about five or six years, returned to Bulqiza, where he initially founded a transport company operating primarily in the mining sector. Alongside this business activity, he also pursued his studies,” Rama said.

Driven by the opportunities the area offered, Drilon decided to change and invest in the medicinal and aromatic plants sector.

“Bulqiza is my birthplace and where I ran my transport business; later, I launched this venture focused on medicinal and aromatic plants. We managed to build the warehouse and get running,” said Drilon.

The business launched in 2022 and, according to him, has grown steadily, exceeding initial expectations.

However, the business is not limited to medicinal plants alone. The entrepreneur has expanded collection efforts to include snails—another natural product with export potential.

“Beyond its mining industry, Bulqiza is also a paradise for medicinal and aromatic plants,” he said.

The podcast also featured two other entrepreneurs, Ergi and Enso, who returned from Austria and Germany and chose to invest in Albania—specifically in Tirana and Berat—linking their business activities to the tourism sector. /k.s/a.f/p.s./

Speaking on his “Let’s Talk” podcast on Sunday, Rama referred to the story of Entela and her family, who returned to the Koman area to establish a guesthouse, saying the programme was designed specifically to support such initiatives.

“The municipality has done a very good job. There have been applications and successful beneficiaries selected. If you want to expand, this is the fastest way,” Rama said.

He added that the scheme also provides assistance to residents facing property registration challenges.

“The quickest solution is to make use of the ‘Mountain Package’ framework and develop an integrated project. Within that process, the legalization of the property can also be completed,” Rama said.

The initiative is aimed at encouraging investment in mountainous areas, supporting rural development and creating new opportunities for agritourism and local entrepreneurship.

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Speaking on journalist Rudina Xhunga’s “Flasim Shqip” podcast, Rama said he had not initially understood the purpose of the protests and needed time to interpret the signs and developments surrounding them.

“I did not expect it and did not understand it immediately. I had to start following the signs and analysing them. There were several moments that helped me understand it fully, and then, of course, I accompanied that with reading and realised that this is the phase we are in,” Rama said.

He described the development as a positive change and “an official or people-stamped change of Albania’s season,” but said it also posed a major challenge because of growing public impatience.

“The further the country progresses, the less inclined citizens are to look at what has been achieved and the more inclined they are to demand more,” Rama said.

“That is the paradox of success,” he added, describing the shift as a major transition.

Rama also spoke about the role of algorithms in the protests, saying a narrative had been created and amplified by what he described as an “army of non-real soldiers” developed in technology laboratories.

“Behind them are the operators, the forces that send them into battle,” he added.

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Conversely, the Prime Minister highlighted Vlora’s overwhelming desire for growth and development. He then highlighted a troubling trend of canceled bookings by foreign tourists. Rama warned that sabotaging Albania’s peak tourism revenue ultimately harms the country, and he questioned whose interests are truly served by such disruptions.

The prime minister noted that the protest strategy has failed to turn people against the government, but will still cause major harm. He also strongly condemned online harassment on Facebook and Instagram as a disgusting symptom of current discourse.

PM Rama condemned political bullying, calling it ‘fascist’ and ‘scandalous.’ He emphasized, ‘No group or party should impose its will on others through threats and violence. This must be stopped, and it will only be stopped if we refuse to back down to these bullies.”

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Speaking on the latest episode of his “Let’s Talka” podcast, the government head highlighted progress in the EU integration process and reiterated the government’s goal of concluding accession negotiations by the end of 2027.

Rama noted that on May 26 Albania completed the phase of opening negotiation chapters and moved into the chapter-closing stage, which he described as the final stretch toward full EU membership.

“Albania has reached the highest point in its European journey so far. The summit we aim to reach together, where we will raise the Albanian flag as a full member of the European family, is now closer than ever before,” he said.

The Premier described the development as a recognition of years of reforms and institutional transformation.

“This is a highly meaningful moment on the road to membership and a clear validation of sustained work carried out over many years. It is a source of satisfaction, but also of significant responsibility,” Rama said.

He stressed that the accession process extends beyond negotiations, encompassing the consolidation of the rule of law, democratic institutions and equality before the law.

“This is not merely a milestone in the negotiation process or another date on the integration calendar. It reflects the deep transformations Albania has undertaken over the past decade, the implementation of difficult reforms, and the establishment of functioning institutions. At the same time, it underscores the need to further strengthen the rule of law, individual freedoms and equality before the law,” he said.

Referring to assessments by the European Union, Rama said Albania had successfully met its obligations in key areas, including justice reform, anti-corruption efforts and the functioning of democratic institutions.

“It is significant that the European Union has confirmed the successful fulfilment of all obligations to date, particularly in areas related to justice, the fight against corruption and the functioning of democratic institutions,” he said.

Rama acknowledged that the next phase would be the most demanding, but said Albania is working under a timetable agreed with the European Commission.

“The final phase is not the easiest; it is the most challenging. We have an agreed roadmap with the European Commission to successfully conclude negotiations by the end of 2027. We have a transitional period during 2028 and the strategic objective of securing Albania’s membership in the European Union by 2030,” Rama said.

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Speaking on the Let’s Talk (“FLASIM”) podcast, Rama focused on the consensus reached in Parliament regarding the resolution on the European integration process.

“The coming together of political forces in Parliament around the resolution related to EU membership is a welcome development in the Parliament of Albania, where, unexpectedly – though positively, I repeat – the opposition forces joined the governing majority in support of a resolution connected to Albania’s accession to the European Union,” Rama stated.

The Prime Minister said such a united stance should be repeated whenever Albania’s strategic interests and European integration are concerned.

“I am genuinely pleased that something like this happened. It would be good for it to happen consistently whenever we speak about European Union membership, but even if it happens only once, it still carries its own value,” he said.

Rama emphasized that the EU negotiation process is irreversible and that Albania is expected to make further progress in both opening and closing negotiation chapters.

“I am also pleased that, from what I understand, they have realized that the process is unstoppable, that the much-discussed blockage does not exist, and that another piece of good news will soon arrive – like all the previous news regarding the opening of chapters – marking the transition to the next phase of the process and paving the way for the closing of negotiation chapters to begin,” Rama declared.

Referring to the opposition’s support for the resolution, Rama said any political unity in support of Albania’s European project is welcome.

“So this joining together – however unexpected or hurried it may be in boarding the ‘boat of European Albania,’ where we have long been present and where there has always been room for them as well – is entirely welcome,” the Prime Minister concluded.

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Rama said “Mado Sushi” has become one of the most popular dining spots in the capital, describing it as an example of business built on persistence and determination.

He said the restaurant reflects the success of entrepreneurs who “push forward with hard work, without relying on the state or political support.”

Hoxha said the main challenge at the beginning was introducing Japanese cuisine to a market that was still unfamiliar with it.

“Not everyone knew it at first, but culinary culture in Albania has developed significantly and today it is widely recognised,” he said.

He added that the restaurant’s customer base is now largely made up of repeat local clients from Tirana and nearby cities, with tourism playing a secondary role.

Rama praised the entrepreneur’s decision to invest in an area that was still under development at the time, noting the risks involved, including the impact of the pandemic.

“This is a world for those who dare,” he said.

Describing “Mado Sushi” as a success story in Albania’s food sector, Rama added: “For me, it is number one.”

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Speaking on Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Let’s Talk podcast, Benito said the project grew out of his long-standing passion for music, which began in childhood and developed into a professional DJ career in 2005.

“Music has always been my hobby. I started as a resident DJ in 2005 and gradually turned it into a profession,” he said.

He explained that the idea for “Happy Beat” emerged from the practical challenges of manually managing playlists across multiple venues, initially using physical media such as USB drives.

“As the number of clients grew, it became unmanageable, so I moved towards streaming and building an online platform,” he said.

“Happy Beat” allows businesses to log in online and access curated, location-specific playlists tailored to their brand and customer profile, with system maintenance handled remotely.

Prime Minister Rama described the platform as an interesting innovation in the intersection of technology and entertainment.

“This is an innovation. It creates a system that allows you to reach multiple venues without being physically present,” he said.

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Architect Dona Hasanaj, researcher Ilona Cenolli and dentist Ernest Llakaj spoke about their international experience and the reasons behind their decision to return home.

Hasanaj, born in Tirana, completed her architecture studies in Sofia on a scholarship before spending 15 years in London, where she built her professional career. During that time, she worked on major conservation and restoration projects, contributing to landmark buildings such as Old Sessions House and the restoration programme of the Palace of Westminster.

Alongside architecture, she pursued studies in astrology and launched her own perfume brand, “Perdon,” produced in the UK and sold online. After returning to Tirana in 2024, she now works at the Center for Openness and Dialogue, a contemporary cultural space focused on public dialogue, youth initiatives and social issues.

Ernest Llakaj moved to Moscow in 2010 on a scholarship to study dentistry. After completing his doctoral studies, he returned to Albania in 2024 to practise his profession.

Ilona Cenolli graduated from Harvard University in 2022 and went on to work at Harvard Medical School as a bioethics researcher, as well as serving as a health policy expert with the General Medical Council.

Cenolli said she believes Albania has the potential to become a pioneer in bioethics, an emerging field dealing with complex legal and policy issues in healthcare. Reflecting this vision, she has established the Institute of Bioethics and Health Policy in Tirana, collaborating with international partners, including Harvard Medical School.

The stories highlight a growing trend of skilled young Albanians returning home, bringing international experience and expertise to contribute to the country’s development.

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Speaking on his weekly, podcast Rama outlined key changes to the scheme, noting that it introduces new forms of support not previously available.

He said the programme was designed following extensive consultations with farmers across the country and reflects their priorities.

“For this reason, the scheme substantially increases support for farmers, not only in terms of funding volume, but also by simplifying access to the benefits each farmer is entitled to, while prioritising areas that ensure higher productivity and a stronger value chain,” Rama said.

Among the main innovations, Rama highlighted incentives for sustainable agricultural practices, including support for biological methods and alignment with European standards.

He added that the scheme places particular emphasis on young farmers, with dedicated funding to support their investments.

The programme also aims to strengthen domestic production, improve competitiveness and expand access to support, while encouraging alignment with European Union standards, Rama said.

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