The Foreign Investors Association of Albania (FIAA) organized a roundtable to present the latest findings of the German Economic Team (GET), bringing together representatives from international institutions, businesses, and key stakeholders of the Albanian economy.
The meeting opened with welcoming remarks by FIAA Executive Director Marinela Jazoj, who emphasized the importance of independent economic analysis in guiding sound policymaking and informed investment decisions. The Deputy Ambassador of Germany to Albania, Thilo Schröter reaffirmed Germany’s continued support for Albania’s economic development.
Ricardo Giucci, Team Leader of the German Economic Team, presented the key findings of the study, highlighting Albania’s positive economic developments in recent years. According to the analysis, Albania has experienced a strong tourism boom since 2021. Tourist arrivals have more than doubled, from 5.2 million in 2021 to approximately 11 million in 2025, while hotel overnight stays have tripled, reaching 9.7 million.
This growth has had a direct and positive impact on macroeconomic indicators. Economic growth remains stable and relatively strong, reaching 3.8% in 2025, with projections of 3.6% by the International Monetary Fund and 4.0% by the Ministry of Finance for 2026. Service exports have increased significantly, driven by tourism, contributing to a substantial reduction in the current account deficit, which is expected to decline to 0.7% of GDP in 2025.
The study also highlights persistently strong foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, estimated at 6.0% of GDP in 2025, with a growing share directed toward the real estate sector, largely driven by the tourism boom. The favorable external position has led to an appreciation of the Albanian lek by 22% since January 2021, contributing to a decline in inflation, recorded at 2.6% year-on-year in March 2026.
Following the presentation, representatives from the World Bank, the IMF, and the United Nations contributed to the discussion, confirming the study’s findings and aligning them with their respective institutional assessments.
From the business community, participants emphasized the need to address key structural challenges, particularly the reduction of the informal (grey) economy and the strengthening of fair competition. It was also recommended that future studies place greater emphasis on assessing current developments and ensuring the sustainability and security of existing investments in Albania.
While tourism and real estate continue to play a significant role in driving economic growth of the country, participants stressed the importance of developing a clearer investment profile for the country, one that includes a stronger industrial base and more targeted, sector-specific investment strategies.
The event once again underscored the importance of close cooperation between public institutions and the private sector in supporting sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Albania.