Mayor Elton Arbana noted that rural roads remain a top focus, highlighting the newly started project on the New Metalla road in Maminas Municipal Unit—a long-awaited request from local residents made possible with government support.

“We aim to turn residents’ requests into concrete investments,” he added. Arbana highlighted Shijak’s development as proof that local and central government partnerships work. Regarding local challenges, he stressed that keeping the area clean is a shared responsibility, not just the job of the municipality

Mayor Arbana announced the first public hearing for the Strategic Environmental Assessment as part of the new General Local Plan. The goal is to create a sustainable plan for Shijak that fits community needs.

“We must listen to every request from families, youth, and businesses with empathy,” Arbana said.

“Where we have the resources, we turn those ideas into real action.”

Arbana shared his vision for a modern, clean and citizen-focused Shijak.

“We want better infrastructure, strong public services and more opportunities for young people and our diaspora,” he added. “We still have much work to do and we must always look ahead.”

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Salla said that these agricultural structures encompass 84 farmers across various sectors. The minister highlighted that a 53-member cooperative focuses on mixed crops (vegetables, citrus, cereals, and vineyards), while the remaining 31 farmers are split between an olive oil cooperative (15 members) and the livestock sector (16 members).

The minister emphasized that through this model, the farmers will have more opportunities for cooperation, wider access to financial support and full benefit from the measures of the National Scheme 2026.

Salla considered the creation of the cooperative societies as an important step towards a more efficient organization of agricultural producers, increased competitiveness and sustainable development of the sector.

Mayor of Shijak Elton Arbana was also present at the presentation of this initiative. /j.p/p.s./

During an interview for ATA, Mayor of Shijak Municipality Elton Arbana stated that this package is a real transformation opportunity for Shijak and all its rural areas.

“Thanks to the support of the government and Prime Minister Edi Rama, we have the priority, which means more investments, more employment opportunities and sustainable economic development. This package aims to restore rural vitality through sustainable tourism and agriculture and other initiatives that exploit our natural potential”, said Arbana.

The mayor of Shijak underlined that the benefits of this package are very clear and concrete, while adding that the first 500 applicants throughout Albania benefit from tax exemption for the first 10 years, including VAT, profit tax, property tax and infrastructure impact tax.

“During the first two months alone, we have registered 21 applications, 17 of which are for agrotourism, with projects that include wooden villas and tourist reception facilities. Other applications are related to livestock, fruit growing and various agricultural activities. The value of the expected investments reaches around 10 million euros, a clear indicator of the confidence that entrepreneurs and farmers have in this package,” he said.

Finally, Arbana called on emigrants from Shijak to invest in their homeland, as the Mountain Package is a golden opportunity for emigrants who want to invest in their land, with fiscal convenience and full support from the state.

The mayor of Shijak stated that, “Even those who do not have full ownership documentation, but have used the land over the years, can benefit. Shijak has wonderful areas such as Gjepalaj, Karpen, Shetel, Rrubjekë and many others, waiting to be developed.”

“This is the moment to invest, to build the future and to contribute to the development of our country,” concluded Arbana. /e.i/a.f/p.s./

Mayor of Shijak Elton Arbana said that the relevant teams of the municipality have been engaged from the first moments, being close to the residents and going from door to door to identify and assess the damages.

According to the data, the working groups have assessed 43 homes in all municipal units of Shijak.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the municipal council meeting will be broadcast live, to pave the way for compensation procedures for the affected citizens.

Mayor Arabana said that, “All the affected citizens will benefit from compensation according to the assessments carried out”.

He called on citizens to insure their properties against any natural disaster, such as earthquakes, floods or fires, in order to guarantee the safety and protection of their wealth. /k.s/a.f/p.s./

Arbana spoke about the situation in Shijak town after the earthquake. He emphasized that the municipality has focused its efforts in the development of agri-tourism in the surrounding villages, which, according to him, have a very large tourist potential.

For his part, Ambassador Kirov emphasized that from year to year there has been an increase in the number of Bulgarian tourists in our country.

Also, during the meeting, the interlocutors discussed on the joint projects that we can realize for the benefit of the citizens.

The town of Shijak will establish sister-like relations with the town of Karnobat in Bulgaria./p.s./

Arbana stated that, “We have already prepared the necessary land documentation for the construction of the new stadium of “K.F. Erzeni” and the works are expected to start soon”.

“After completion of the reconstruction process following the quake, while Shijak has restored to normality, my priority as mayor is the further development of culture and sports, as a city that has an early tradition in these two areas”, Arbana wrote in a post on social networks.

Arbana added that the Municipality of Shijak is fully committed to the fans being able to attend “Erzen”’s matches in the new stadium facility with a capacity of around 4000-4500 people.

“Thanks to the Socialist Party and the support of Prime Minister Edi Rama, Shijak in 2030 will be a city with European development. I am confident that the new stadium project will be one more boost to the objective of having a competitive and winning team playing “at home” with great support from its passionate fans. Where there is a will, there is a way”, said Arbana. /p.s./

During a visit to Shijak, Begaj emphasized the significance of increasing serious foreign investments as well as honest domestic enterprises that serve to develop sustainable objectives and models for a better future.

He first visited companies that were opened after the 90s as small family businesses and today have strengthened by entering international markets.

Such is the Maminas-based “Insifa”, a company of 6 Osmani brothers who undertook this initiative in 1992 through a bar and have now established a sustainable business in the field of gastronomy, culinary and tourism. “Insifa” also has the latest technology for the production of sweets.

President Begaj praised this inspiring venture, stating that, “This is an example of good deeds by honest work”.

“Exporting to 35 countries “Made in Albania” products of high quality prove that you are the best promoters of Albania”, said President Begaj during this meeting.

Another development model is the “Agro Koni” company in Koxhas Fushë where the president visited two greenhouses of this agribusiness.

He congratulated the entrepreneurs for investing in agriculture and beekeeping and said that: “Through establishment and strengthening of businesses, more jobs are guaranteed for families and communities”.

In order to encourage the increase of international investments in Albania, President Begaj paid a visit to “Maccaferri Balkans”, based in “Xhafzotaj”, a branch of the international “Maccaferri Group”, a leader in the civil, geotechnical and environmental engineering markets.

The president appreciated this serious effort and said that Albania needs them. In this subsidiary where over 200 Albanians work, Begaj was received by the head of the Italian group “Macaaferri”, Lapo Vivarelli Colonna, with whom he talked about the value and global vision of the investment.

“Once, I used to say that there are many Italians in Albania, but little Italy, but the presence of your group shows that Italy is present with serious investments”, said President Begaj. /p.s./

President Begaj visited the reconstructed schools, equipped with modern facilities and tools for students, including laboratories for practice, but also with new teaching methods, artistic and professional clubs.

The president held a conversation with pupils and teachers of 9-year and secondary schools, where he got acquainted with the problems and the progress of the educational process. During this meeting, President Begaj called on the students to appreciate and respect their teachers as they respect their families.

Following the Albanian book initiative, the President of the Republic and the First Lady donated about 150 didactic and literary titles to the libraries of three schools in Shijak.

Begaj also emphasized the significance of professional education for young people, as an opportunity to build the future in Albania.

For his part, Mayor of Shijak Elton Arbana thanked the president for the attention he showed to Shijak, the first city to complete the reconstruction process in Albania after the earthquake. /m.m/p.s./

“These are some of the new multi-storey buildings in Shijak for the 127 families who lost their homes due to the earthquake in 2019”, wrote Rama in a post on social media.

Following the construction of the new water and sewerage infrastructure, in Shijak there are being built by the state 31 new multi-storey buildings with 660 apartments, which will not only change the lives of the families affected by the earthquake in a quality way, but also the urban conditions of the city itself.

In Shijak, the construction site extends over an area of 49,800 square meters while another area of 25,200 square meters are designed for additional facilities that serve the entire community. /k.s/p.s./

The delegation of the European Union in Tirana said today that, “As the year draws to an end, we are proud of one of the most important programs of the European Union in Albania, EU4Schools.

TeamEurope Ambassadors together with UNDP Resident Representative & the Minister of Education, inaugurated the “Shtojzovallet” kindergarten & “Rilindja” primary school in Shijak, bringing the total number of rebuild educational facilities to 35.”

More than 160 students of “Rilindja” school learn in fantastic laboratories and play sports in the new gym. The new kindergarten “Shtojzovallet” welcomes 120 children a day.

More than half of the 63 educational structures that the “EU4Schools” program is rebuilding are already fully functional./p.s./