In a recent interview reflecting on his first year as Italy’s Ambassador to Albania, Marco Alberti articulated a clear vision for the future of bilateral relations: the transition from historical friendship to a robust, strategic partnership.
Since assuming his post in 2025, Ambassador Alberti has overseen a shift in Italian economic engagement. Moving away from the traditional "labor-intensive" model, the new strategy prioritizes "capital-intensive" and "innovation-oriented" investment. This approach is designed to integrate Albania into high-value sectors, including energy transition, digital technology, and heavy industry.
A cornerstone of this new phase is the recent Fincantieri-Kayo joint venture. This project aims to modernize Albania’s maritime defense and shipbuilding capacity within the NATO framework, while simultaneously generating local jobs and expanding Fincantieri's global production footprint.
Looking ahead, the Embassy has set ambitious goals for the 2025–2030 period, including a target to triple Italian foreign investment in the country. Key priorities also include:
- EU Accession: Continued support for Albania’s reform agenda.
- Corridor VIII: Advancing this critical infrastructure project to boost regional stability.
- Business Cooperation: Organizing a major bilateral business forum in the fall of 2026 to further strengthen corporate ties.
Ambassador Alberti emphasized that this evolution is supported by strong institutional rapport between Prime Ministers Edi Rama and Giorgia Meloni, as well as deep-rooted people-to-people connections that remain the "heart" of the relationship.
