Albania Economia
Founded in 1993, Alban Costruzioni shpk operates in the design and construction of commercial, residential and industrial buildings in reinforced concrete and steel. The company also produces prefabricated reinforced concrete structures, including electricity poles and electrical substations. In this interview, Dr. Michelacci recalls the early days of investing in Albania, the country’s transformation over the past three decades, the opportunities for Italian entrepreneurs and the challenges still facing the business environment.
Dr. Michelacci, how did your journey in Albania begin? How was Alban Costruzioni founded?
It happened almost by chance. At the time, our attention was actually focused on Yugoslavia, where we were looking for construction aggregates. During a meeting in Rome with the then Minister Tesini, the opportunity arose to visit Albania, also considering Italy’s involvement in the humanitarian operation “Pellicano”, which had created a direct connection between the two countries.
My first trip to Albania took place in February 1993, and we essentially replicated here the business model we had developed in Italy. We were among the first Italian-Albanian joint ventures established in the country.
How have you seen Albania change over these years?
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Albania was almost a ghost country. Buildings had been looted and reduced to empty structures. Everything had to be rebuilt.
Then, between 1997 and 1998, following the collapse of the pyramid financial schemes in which many Albanians lost their savings, the country experienced a period of violence and instability, with weapons circulating widely.
I will never forget the surreal image of three children playing with real Kalashnikovs.
Today, Tirana is a European city, a safe and peaceful place, and a country moving towards European Union integration. Albania has changed enormously, and above all, it has changed for the better.
Why should an Italian entrepreneur invest in Albania today?
There are several good reasons to do so. The geographical proximity to Italy and Europe, lower labour costs, a favourable tax system and a very limited trade union presence are all factors that attract entrepreneurs.
What are, instead, the main challenges from a business perspective?
Operating in Albania is not always easy. It is a country with many hidden complexities, and it is important to understand how to navigate them.
My advice is to always operate with the support and guidance of institutions such as the Italian Embassy and Confindustria. I strongly discourage entrepreneurs from approaching Albania through naive or superficial initiatives, because there are many opportunities but also potential risks.
Albania wants to present itself as a country with a streamlined bureaucracy, but in reality, there is still progress to be made. As we know, bureaucracy can sometimes create opportunities for malpractice.
Which sectors do you believe will experience the strongest growth in the coming years?
Infrastructure and tourism.
Albania has a strong tourism vocation. We are also investing in this sector, particularly in the south of the country.
Unfortunately, we still encounter some difficulties related to the clarity of property ownership titles: in some cases, there are state-owned lands that were later occupied, making it difficult today to reconstruct their history accurately.
These issues still exist in some areas of Albania. However, despite these obstacles, tourism will certainly be one of the country’s leading growth sectors in the near future.
How do you evaluate the professionalism and work culture of Albanian employees?
This is a somewhat sensitive issue.
Albania still lacks a strong vocational education system. We produce metal structures and mainly work with international markets, meaning that our products must meet very high quality standards.
We struggle to find qualified and reliable personnel. Generally speaking, Albanian workers who have not gained professional experience abroad often find it difficult to reach the standards required by international companies.
For this reason, we train our employees internally.
What is it like for an Italian to live in Albania?
For an Italian, it is easy to feel at home in Albania.
Despite some challenges, life in Albania can be very satisfying. Italians are highly appreciated, and almost all Albanians speak our language.
In many ways, today’s Albania brings back to the Italian heart the nostalgia for values and a lifestyle that seem to have been partly lost in the noisy pace of modern life.