In a media briefing after the government meeting, Minister of State for Protection of Entrepreneurship, Edona Bilali, said that this is very good news not only for the startup ecosystem, but also for every young man and woman who wants to get into the field of entrepreneurship, who has an innovative idea and wants to go beyond borders with that idea or service, always leveraging information technology.

“This news comes in the followup to some changes and decisions that the government has made. To begin with, the amendment to the law on the support and development of startups introducing the notion of digital nomads, which is practically based on two changes. Firstly, the facilitation of the entry of this target group into Albania and secondly, the exemption from taxes for their stay of up to 1 year in the country,” she said.

Bilali emphasized that we are witnessing the effects of this change day to day such the multiplication of entrances, their stay and connection with the ecosystem in Albania.

“The second change, this one even bigger, was the government’s decision on legal changes and by-laws for technological and scientific parks. Now all the legal basis and by-laws are ready, accompanied by the exemption from of the full value of the insurance payment for the salaries of IT employees,” she added.
This, according to the minister, will open up a whole new opportunity and perspective to foreign or domestic companies that are aiming to diversify and come up with their own output, whether it is in the form of a service for export.

“The framework is fully completed with the decision we passed today by dedicating an institution institution to this target group, which is directly connected to academia and business, but also to civil society. There are basically two changes that this new form of organization will bring about. Initially, all financial support from the government will go to Startup Albania. Also the monitoring of funds both from the government, but also from other donors who are expected to join this initiative will be the responsibility of this institution,” she said.

Also, Bilal also focused on the assistance that will be given to startups in real time. “We are not only talking about the One Stop Shop, which is provided for in the law on startups, but also with information related to other institutions, such as the uncertainties that startups have about industrial ownership, about practices or tax breaks, as well also for other customs facilities,” the minister said.
/sm/