Overview of Albania

Briefly About Albania

The cities of Tirana and Durrës form the economic and financial heart of Albania due to their high populations, modern infrastructure, and strategic geographical locations. The country's most important infrastructure facilities pass through both cities, connecting the north to the south and the west to the east. Among the largest companies are the oil companies Taçi Oil, Albpetrol, ARMO and Kastrati, the mineral company AlbChrome, the cement company Antea, the investment company BALFIN Group and the technology companies Albtelecom, Vodafone, Telekom Albania and others.

In 2012, Albania's GDP per capita was 30% of the European Union average, while the GDP per capita (PPP) was 35%. Following the global financial crisis, Albania was one of three countries in Europe to record economic growth in the first quarter of 2010. The International Monetary Fund predicted 2.6% growth for Albania in 2010 and 3.2% in 2011. According to Forbes, as of December 2016, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was growing at 2.8%. The country had a trade balance of -9.7% and an unemployment rate of 14.7%. Foreign direct investment has increased significantly in recent years as the government has launched an ambitious program to improve the business climate through fiscal and legal reforms.

Private Sectors in Albania

Due to the Mediterranean climate in Berat, grapes, as well as wine, olives, and citrus fruits, are mostly produced in Southern Albania.

Agriculture in the country is based on scattered small to medium-sized family-owned units. It remains a significant sector of the Albanian economy. One of the oldest agricultural areas in Europe was found in the southeast of the country. As part of Albania's pre-accession process to the European Union, farmers are being assisted through IPA funds to improve Albanian agricultural standards.

Albania produces a significant amount of fruits (apples, olives, grapes, oranges, lemons, apricots, peaches, cherries, figs, sour cherries, plums, and strawberries), vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, corn, onions, and wheat), sugar beets, tobacco, meat, honey, dairy products, traditional medicine, and aromatic plants. Furthermore, the country is a significant global producer of sage, rosemary, and yellow gentian. The country's proximity to the Ionian Sea and the Adriatic Sea gives its underdeveloped fishing industry great potential. Economists from the World Bank and the European Community report that Albania's fishing industry has good potential to generate export revenue because prices in the nearby Greek and Italian markets are many times higher than those in the Albanian market. The fish found off the country's coasts are carp, trout, sea bream, mussels, and crustaceans.

Albania has one of the oldest viticulture histories in Europe. The region today was one of the few places where the vine grew naturally during the Ice Age. The oldest seeds found in the region are 4,000 to 6,000 years old. In 2009, the country produced an estimated 17,500 tons of wine.

Energy Sector in Albania

Due to its geographical location and natural resources, Albania has a wide variety of energy sources, from gas, oil, and coal to wind, solar, and water, and other renewable sources. According to the 2023 Energy Transition Index (ETI) published by the World Economic Forum, the country ranked 21st globally, highlighting notable progress on its energy transition agenda. Currently, Albania's electricity generation sector is dependent on hydroelectric power, which simultaneously ranks it fifth in the world by percentage. It is home to four hydroelectric power plants, including Drin, Fierza, Koman, Skavica, and Vau i Dejës, located in the north. Two other power plants, such as Banjë and Moglicë, are located in the south along the Devoll river.

Albania has significant oil deposits. It has the 10th largest oil reserves in Europe and the 58th largest in the world. The country's main oil deposits are located around Albania's Adriatic Sea Coast and the Myzeqe Plain within the Western Lowlands, where the country's largest reserve is found. The Patos-Marinza, located in the region, is the largest onshore oilfield in Europe. The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), part of the planned Southern Gas Corridor, runs for 215 kilometers (134 miles) through Albanian territory before entering Albania's Adriatic Sea Coast. About 17 kilometers (11 miles) northwest of Fier.

Albania's water resources are particularly abundant in all regions of the country and consist of lakes, rivers, springs, and groundwater aquifers. The country's current average freshwater amount is estimated to be 129.7 cubic meters (4,580 cubic feet) per person per year, one of the highest rates in Europe. According to data presented by the Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP) in 2015, about 93% of the country's total population had access to improved sanitation.

Technology in Albania

After the fall of communism in 1991, human resources in science and technology in Albania decreased significantly. According to various reports, between 1991 and 2005, approximately 50% of the professors and scientists from the country's universities and scientific institutions left Albania. In 2009, the government approved the National Strategy for Science, Technology, and Innovation in Albania covering the period 2009-2015. It aims to increase public spending on research and development to 0.6% of GDP and to increase the share of GDP from foreign sources, including the European Union's research framework programs, to the point where it covers 40% of research spending, among others. Albania ranked 84th in the Global Innovation Index in 2021.

Telecommunications represents one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic sectors in Albania. Vodafone Albania, Telekom Albania, and Albtelecom are the three major mobile and internet providers in Albania. As of 2018, according to the Electronic and Postal Communications Authority (AKEP), there are approximately 2.7 million active mobile users and about 1.8 million active broadband subscribers in the country. Vodafone Albania alone served more than 931,000 mobile users, Telekom Albania had about 605,000 users, and Albtelecom had more than 272,000 users.

Language in Albania 

The country's official language is Albanian, spoken by the vast majority of the country's population. Its standard spoken and written form was revised and merged from the two main dialects, Gheg and Tosk, although it is notably based more on the Tosk dialect. The Shkumbin river is the rough dividing line between the two dialects. Minority languages include Greek, which is the second most spoken language in the country, with 0.5% to 3% of the population speaking it as their first language, mainly in the south of the country where its speakers are concentrated. Other languages spoken by ethnic minorities in Albania are Vlach, Serbian, Macedonian, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Gorani, and Romani. Macedonian is official in the Pustec Municipality in Eastern Albania. According to the 2011 census, 2,765,610 people, or 98.8% of the population, declared Albanian as their native language. Due to the large migration from Albania, more than half of Albanians learn a second language during their lifetime. The main foreign languages known are English at 40.0%, Italian at 27.8%, and Greek at 22.9%. English speakers were mostly young, while knowledge of Italian is stable across all age groups, whereas there is a decrease in Greek speakers in the youngest group.

Among young people under 25, there has been an increased interest in English, German, and Turkish since 2000. Interest in Italian and French has remained stable, while Greek has lost most of its former interest. The trends are linked to cultural and economic factors.

Young people have shown an increased interest in German in recent years. Some go to Germany to study or for various experiences. Albania and Germany have made cooperation agreements to help the youth of the two countries get to know both cultures better. Due to the rapid increase in economic relations with Turkey, interest in learning Turkish is increasing every year, especially among young people.

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Local Cuisine in Albania

Bukë misri (cornbread) is a staple food on the Albanian table.

For centuries, Albanian cuisine has been greatly influenced by Albanian culture, geography, and history, and as such, different regions of the country enjoy specific regional cuisines. Cooking traditions vary, especially between the north and the south, due to the different topography and climate that essentially contribute to the excellent growing conditions for a wide variety of herbs, fruits, and vegetables.

Albanians produce and use many varieties of fruits such as lemon, orange, fig, and most importantly, olive, which is perhaps the most important element of Albanian cuisine. Spices and other herbs such as basil, lavender, mint, oregano, rosemary, and thyme, as well as vegetables like garlic, onion, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, and all kinds of legumes are widely used.

With a coastline along the Adriatic and Ionian Seas in the Mediterranean, fish, crustaceans, and seafood are popular and an integral part of the Albanian diet. Otherwise, lamb is the traditional meat for different holidays and religious festivals for both Christians and Muslims, although poultry, beef, and pork are also abundant.

Speca të fermuara (fermented peppers) are served with pite, a traditional and notable layered Albanian pie.

Tavë kosi ("soured milk casserole"), is Albania's national dish, consisting of lamb and rice baked under a cover of thick, sour yogurt. Fergesë is another national dish consisting of peppers, tomatoes, and cottage cheese. Pite, a baked pastry filled with a mixture of spinach and gjizë (curd) or mish (minced meat), is also popular.

Petulla, a traditional fried dough, is also a popular specialty and is served with powdered sugar or feta cheese and various fruit jams. Flia consists of numerous pancake-like layers brushed with cream and served with sour cream. Krofne, similar to Berliner doughnuts, are filled with jam or chocolate and are usually eaten during winter.

Coffee is an integral part of the Albanian lifestyle. The country has more coffeehouses per capita than any other country in the world. ^[340] Tea is consumed both at home and outside in cafes, bars, or restaurants. Çaj Mali ( Sideritis tea) is much loved and is part of the daily routine for most Albanians. It is grown in Southern Albania and is notable for its medicinal properties. Black tea is also popular.

Albanian wine is also common throughout the country and has been cultivated for thousands of years. Albania has a long and ancient history of wine production and belongs to the Old World of wine-producing countries.

Music in Albania

Albanian iso-polyphony has been designated as a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Albanian folk music is a vital part of the national identity and continues to play a major role in general Albanian music. Folk music can be divided into two stylistic groups, mainly the northern Gheg varieties and the southern Lab and Tosk varieties. Northern and southern traditions are contrasted by the rugged tone from the north and the more relaxed form of southern music.

Many songs are about events from Albanian history and culture, including the traditional themes of honor, hospitality, betrayal, and revenge. The first compilation of Albanian folk music was made by two Himariot musicians, Neço Muka and Koço Çakali, in Paris during their work with the Albanian soprano Tefta Tashko-Koço. Several gramophone compilations were recorded at that time by the three artists, which eventually led to the recognition of Albanian iso-polyphony as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Festivali i Këngës is a traditional Albanian song contest organized by the national broadcaster Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). The festival has been celebrated every year since its inauguration in 1962 and has launched the careers of some of Albania's most successful singers, including Vaçe Zela and Parashqevi Simaku. Significantly, it is a music competition among Albanian artists, presenting unreleased songs in premiere, voted on by juries or the public.

Contemporary artists Rita Ora, Bebe Rexha, Era Istrefi, Dua Lipa, Ava Max, Bleona, Elvana Gjata, Ermonela Jaho, and Inva Mula have achieved international recognition with their music, while soprano Ermonela Jaho has been described by some as the "world's most acclaimed soprano." Albanian opera singer Saimir Pirgu was nominated for a 2017 Grammy Award.