Speaking with local government representatives, Rama said abandoned industrial sites had been identified in cooperation with municipalities and that planning models for their transformation were already in place.

He also highlighted the development of municipal museums as a key element in strengthening tourism outside major centres, saying local authorities would play a central role in implementation.

On innovation policy, Rama said the Startups Albania programme would be expanded beyond Tirana, noting rising demand and the need to encourage participation in smaller municipalities.

“The number of applications is highly unbalanced, with Tirana dominating,” he said, adding that efforts were needed to raise awareness among young people across the country.

Rama also said joint companies between municipalities and local businesses and farmers were already being established and would be further developed alongside a new programme aimed at supporting entrepreneurship.

“These initiatives are part of a broader effort that requires engagement from local authorities to ensure balanced development across the country,” he said.

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During a briefing after the government meeting, Ibrahimaj stated that the funds will support the startups in their three phases. The first call, she emphasized, will open on February 16 and will remain open for 30 days

The minister stated that there are expected to be supported 50-80 projects, while the total fund for the support of start-ups and facilitators for 2024 is 3 million Euros.

In the initial phase, the support goes up to a maximum of 1.5 million ALL and every individual who has an idea can apply.

In the second phase, there will be supported the entities that have been operating in the market for 1 year, i.e. that have submitted 1 year of financial statements and have created a prototype and through the funds they can develop the prototype, which must be marketable. At this stage, the financial support reaches a maximum of up to 4.5 million ALL.

The third phase includes those entities that already have a developed prototype that is marketable, but still need funding to grow or internationalize. The financial support at this stage goes up to 9 million ALL. /p.s./

This fact was highlighted at the regional virtual roundtable on mapping and landscaping outcome of SME support services and national IP offices, hosted by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), where Albania was represented by the DPPI Director, Rovena Beqiraj.

The meeting’s goal was to present the results of the Mapping exercise and together with the WIPO recommendations to further strengthen the capacities of the SMEs in the CEBSMC countries, to give a brief presentation regarding the WIPO relevant tools and materials in terms of intellectual property for Business.

In this context, on June 9, 2022, DPPI in cooperation with WIPO will organize a hybrid workshop for the launch and distribution of this missing guide in such a format.

DPPI invites start-ups to become part of this activity to learn more about intellectual property rights, as very important assets to increase the value of their entrepreneurship.

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The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development-MARD in cooperation with the German Government, launched a new program, “AgriChallenge” that will bring together 100 agricultural students, young farmers from the Korça region, to generate and implement new ideas in the field of Start-ups.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Enio Civici attended the activity on the promotion of the “AgriChallenge” program, taking place in Korça.

In his remarks Civici said that, “this is an innovative competition that brings together 100 young people passionate about technology and agriculture, with a passion for implementation of their ideas in Start-ups.”

According to Civici, digitalization of agriculture aims to provide access to every source of information about agriculture, addressing the basic needs that serve the whole community, competitiveness and promotion of exports.

In recent years, farmers have increased requests for information in the field of innovation and start-ups at the Agricultural Technology Transfer Centers, due to growing interest to orient domestic agricultural products towards exports.

“Thus, the new program aims to promote start-ups in the agricultural sector in Korca, as the region with high agricultural production and exports potential,” Civici said. //a.i/

The Minister of Finance and Economy, Anila Denaj stated on Thursday that,” through our economic program even in the third term we will continue to promote youth enterprises”.

“The support fund for new start-ups will be 5-fold,” Minister Denaj said, while emphasizing that, the Socialist Party’s vision for the digitalization of the economy is more tangible today.

Throughout the first two terms, we have supported businesses in the field of information technology applying fiscal facilities.

“Today we are discussing a new law on start-ups in the field of innovation with the clear objective of promoting innovative ideas and zero taxes for the first two years that will have a major impact on development of entrepreneurship by young people,” Minister Denaj said.

In the third term, the “Innovation and Excellence in Manufacturing” and “Innovation and Excellence in IT” programs will be created for training in innovation, design, marketing, research and development covering 100% of training costs,” Denaj said.//a.i/