Deputy Minister of Finance Endrit Yzeiraj noted that talks with the Erste Group focused on recent macroeconomic trends, international borrowing plans and financial partnerships. He added that such dialogue helps showcase Albania’s economic progress and builds investor confidence ahead of a Eurobond issuance.

With Q1 growth at 3.7%, inflation holding near target at 2.7%, and lower unemployment, the Ministry of Finance is preparing its next international bond issuance. The move capitalizes on strong economic momentum to secure advantageous financing conditions and support long-term debt sustainability.

On February 11, 2025, Albania returned to international capital markets for its seventh Eurobond issuance, raising €650 million. The 10-year instrument carries a 4.75% coupon and a 5% yield, with full repayment due in February 2035.

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Deputy Minister of Finance Endrit Yzeiraj said in an interview with ATA that this is a challenging, but necessary process that requires awareness, continuous information and investment.

“Through the ‘Double Your Business’ initiative, we are building the financial and support frameworks needed to make this transition a reality for Albanian enterprises,” he noted.

Deputy Minister Yzeiraj emphasized the significance of recognizing and meeting standards, especially within the framework of the chapters of European integration related to the free movement of goods.

He emphasizes that European integration requires meeting the legal standards.

The first step, according to him, is raising awareness among society and entrepreneurs.

To help businesses, the Ministry of Economy and Innovation and international partners, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, are creating a program that provides information, training and certifications to help businesses improve processes and adapt to the European Union’s digital systems.

Yzeiraj emphasized that when meeting standards requires increased capacity, investments in production lines or digital skills, the state will provide support through the financial initiative “Double Your Business”.

However, he said, the main responsibility remains with businesses.

The deputy minister recalled that integration is imminent and that the time that businesses have to prepare to survive in this market is limited./j.p/r.e/p.s./

In an interview, Yzeiraj said dialogue with stakeholders on new legislation has expanded across multiple levels, including a structured calendar of meetings led by the chief negotiator and negotiation teams since September 2025.

“These consultations are ongoing and include roundtables with interest groups. Many actors in society have long been accustomed to hearing the term integration without fully engaging with what it requires in practice,” he said.

Yzeiraj underlined that the process also places responsibility on businesses to actively prepare for new regulatory obligations linked to the EU single market.

“The obligation for companies and individuals to understand the costs and legal requirements they will face is primarily their own responsibility,” he noted.

He added that the institutionalized consultation process is part of standard procedures applied during transitional periods in accession negotiations.

Feedback from businesses and civil society is compiled by a technical secretariat within the Ministry of Finance and other line ministries, before being submitted to the chief negotiator and shared with the European Commission as part of discussions on transitional arrangements.

Yzeiraj also highlighted the role of the private sector in shaping EU-related implementation timelines, saying well-structured arguments based on sector-specific needs can influence the Commission’s assessment.

“When there is a clear and justified argument for additional time in implementing EU obligations, the Commission is more likely to consider it positively. A key element in building such arguments is direct engagement with the private sector affected by the relevant directives,” he said.

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During the meeting, Yzeiraj updated the IMF mission on government actions to improve credit access for underserved sectors.

Key focus areas include implementing sovereign guarantees via the ‘Double Your Entrepreneurship’ package and progress on the Development Bank’s establishment.

According to him, another key focus was boosting economic funding without compromising lending standards.

In this context, the parties exchanged experiences and successful practices from other countries that have followed similar development models.

Yzeiraj stressed that financial stability remains a key element for ensuring sustainable economic growth in the long term, as well as for advancing the country’s European integration process. /j.p/p.s./