The Connect Albania Program was presented on the third on-line event held on 12 March 2021. In addition to the main areas of interest presented today - manufacture and qualified services in the health sector - the event was focused to address questions of Albanian Diaspora Members by IOM Albania team and Connect Albania Office representatives.

In this third online presentation event participated H.E. Mr. Pandeli Majko, State Minister for Diaspora; Ms. Alma Jani, Head of Office IOM Albania; Ms. Vasilika Vjero, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Finance and Economy; Mr. Armand Skapi, General Secretary, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs; Mr. Endri Xhaferaj, Programme Officer of AICS Tirana; Ms. Manoela Lussi, IOM Albania Diaspora Programme Manager; Programme staff and Connect Albania Program office representatives. In the event were shared testimonies of Italian and Albanian Diaspora Successful Entrepreneurs who have invested in Albania. The event was moderated by the well – known Albanian Diaspora Journalist, Mr. Arber Agalliu.

“Albanian Diaspora members, who will become Development Agents through Connect Albania will offer assistance to the foreign entrepreneurs in their journey to start up or to expand their businesses in Albania”, noted Ms. Jani during the event.

While Mr. Majko added that “Connect Albania now has entered in a very important and practical stage, by accepting the requests of Albanian Diaspora members to become Development Agent”. 

“Development Agents strengthen the tie between Albania Diaspora and their home country, in particular to the growth of the presence of Italian entrepreneurships to Albania, resulting in an increased employment”, said Mr. Skapi.

The third online event created the space to the potential Development Agents to have a deep understanding on Connect Albania mechanism, selection criteria, how to become a Development Agent and other details of the program which were fully elaborated during the event.

Discussing on the role of the Development Agents, Mr. Xhaferaj stated that “diaspora image is multidimensional, connecting countries professionally, culturally, socially and economically”.  

Ms. Vjero congratulated IOM Albania for such important initiative for the country and ensured the support of Ministry of Finance and Economy for Connect Albania.

Connect Albania mechanism is a crucial part of the program “Engage the Albanian Diaspora to the Social and Economic Development of Albania”. It will contribute to increase investments in Albania, that will create new jobs and will impact on the economic growth. The program is implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mission in Albania - the UN Migration Agency, with funding from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and operational involvement of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) in Albania, in close coordination with the Albanian State Minister for Diaspora, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Economy.