With the aim of strengthening economic and investment cooperation amid the ongoing rapprochement between Greece and Albania — two countries that now appear to have moved past years of strained relations — the Greek-Albanian Economic Forum was held in Athens on May 22. Organized by the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Tirana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the forum also focused on fostering new business partnerships through B2B meetings.
The president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Giannis Bratakos, welcomed the large Albanian delegation to the chamber’s headquarters on Akadimias Street in central Athens. The event opened with introductory remarks from both Bratakos and his Albanian counterpart, Nikolin Jaka.
Speaking at the forum, Bratakos stressed that Athens and Tirana share geographical proximity, strong human ties and a common interest in building a more dynamic future for the wider region. He underlined that the Economic Forum serves as an opportunity to strengthen the economic bridge between the two countries.
He also highlighted sectors in which Greece and Albania could deepen cooperation, including energy, tourism, construction, logistics, innovation, services, infrastructure and the agri-food industry.
Taking the floor, Nikolin Jaka pointed to what he described as still untapped opportunities for economic cooperation. He proposed moving beyond traditional trade relations toward a more integrated model based on co-production and joint investments.
Representing the Greek government at the forum was Deputy Development Minister Stavros Kalafatis. Albania was represented by Deputy Minister of Economy and Innovation Enkelejd Musabelliu, who focused on the rapid evolution of the Albanian economy and its alignment with European standards as part of the country’s EU accession path — a process already receiving significant support from Greece.
Right Time to Deepen Cooperation
“Albania today is moving forward with confidence, promoting reforms, modernizing infrastructure, accelerating digital transformation and strengthening its role as a regional gateway in the Western Balkans and the Mediterranean. Our message today is simple and clear: this is the right moment to deepen cooperation, encourage investment and build sustainable partnerships that create value both for our economies and for our peoples,” said Albania’s ambassador to Greece, Luela Hajdaraga, during her address at the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
She also referred to memorandums of cooperation in the fields of tourism and investment which, she noted, demonstrate the shared vision of Athens and Tirana to transform geographical proximity into opportunity and cooperation into tangible results.
The thematic sections of the Greece-Albania Economic Forum focused on the following sectors:
- Technology and Innovation: startups, digital transformation, ICT and technology solutions
- Tourism and Hospitality: sustainable tourism, cultural tourism, development of hotel and tourism facilities
- Renewable Energy and Green Technology: solar and wind energy, energy efficiency and green financing
- Agri-food and Food Processing: innovation, organic products, olive oil, dairy products, fruit processing and wine production
- Construction and Real Estate Development: urban development, smart cities, public-private partnership projects and investments in commercial and residential real estate
- Beauty and Personal Care: cosmetics, skincare and haircare products, wellness products and professional beauty services
The forum, which began with a meeting between the leadership of the two chambers, concluded with bilateral business meetings between participating companies.
More Bilateral Meetings Ahead
On the political front, Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis is expected to visit Tirana in June as part of his broader Western Balkans tour. The visit follows a Greek initiative aimed at accelerating the EU accession process for Western Balkan countries ahead of Greece’s presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2027.
Meanwhile, on June 8 and 9, the speaker of the Albanian parliament is scheduled to visit Athens, where he will meet with Greek Parliament Speaker Nikita Kaklamanis, President Konstantinos Tasoulas and Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis.
Beyond the positive momentum in bilateral relations, 2026 also marks 55 years since the restoration of diplomatic relations between Greece and Albania. Athens and Tirana officially re-established diplomatic ties in May 1971.
Also scheduled for Monday, May 25, is a visit by Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias to Tirana, where he is expected to meet with his Albanian counterpart as well as Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.
