EBRD Advice for Small Businesses in Albania

28/05/2026

Union Bank, në partneritet me BERZH, organizoi eventin “Finance Your Future Digitally” në Tiranë, duke mbledhur sipërmarrës, biznese dhe aktorë të inovacionit, si dhe duke adresuar mënyrat se si të rinjtë në biznes mund të mbështeten me financim dhe asistencë teknike. 🚀

Me fokus të veçantë tek të rinjtë në biznes, eventi theksoi rëndësinë e financimit, teknologjisë dhe fuqizimit të sipërmarrjeve të reja për një rritje të qëndrueshme dhe konkurruese. 📈

Programi për të Rinjtë në Biznes mbështetet nga European Union in Albania, EU Enlargement & Eastern Neighbourhood, LuXembourg - Let's Make It Happen, Sverige, Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale, përmes European Initiative - CEI

28/05/2026

🏙️ Urban & Tourism Infrastructure at Balkonnect Festival 2026 in Tirana brought together experts across infrastructure, finance, skills, and international cooperation to explore how modern projects can strengthen cities and boost the Western Balkans’ competitiveness.

With insights from leading voices in energy, mobility, circular development, and workforce readiness, the session highlighted how strong partnerships can turn sustainable infrastructure ideas into impactful, bankable opportunities.

This activity is supported by EBRD Advice for Small Businesses in Albania, and EU Enlargement & Eastern Neighbourhood, European Union in Albania under the Single Market Ready Programme in the Western Balkans.

26/05/2026

🌱 Inspiring discussions at Balkonnect Festival 2026 highlighted how the Western Balkans can move from green ambition to real action through renewable energy, innovation, and investment. 🌍 Industry leaders, senior bankers and experts shared insights on the opportunities and challenges shaping a sustainable future for the region at Piramida, Tirana.

This activity is supported by EBRD Advice for Small Businesses in Albania, and EU Enlargement & Eastern Neighbourhood, European Union in Albania under the Single Market Ready Programme in the Western Balkans.

25/05/2026

The World Business Angels Forum Western Balkans Meetup at Balkonnect Festival 2026 brought a global investment network to Tirana, fostering dialogue on startup growth, smart capital, and international collaboration. The session highlighted how the region can strengthen investment readiness and better connect local entrepreneurs with global angel investor ecosystems.

This activity is supported by EBRD Advice for Small Businesses in Albania, and EU Enlargement & Eastern Neighbourhood, European Union in Albania under the Single Market Ready Programme in the Western Balkans.

25/05/2026

Tourism, real estate, and infrastructure took center stage at Balkonnect Festival 2026 in Tirana, bringing together leading voices to explore how destinations can create stronger long-term value. The session highlighted the power of connecting cultural heritage, creative industries, and innovation to build a more competitive and sustainable tourism offer for Albania and the Western Balkans.

This activity is supported by EBRD Advice for Small Businesses in Albania, and EU Enlargement & Eastern Neighbourhood, European Union in Albania under the Single Market Ready Programme in the Western Balkans.

23/05/2026

At the session on Season Extension & Destination Management at Balkonnect Festival 2026 in Tirana, experts from tourism, hospitality, and technology came together to explore how Albania and the Western Balkans can move beyond seasonal tourism and build strong, year-round destination value.
The discussion highlighted key topics such as destination management, visitor experience, hospitality standards, and the role of technology and collaboration in creating more sustainable and competitive tourism flows.
Leading experts and industry professionals shared valuable insights into how technology and sustainable practices are shaping the future of tourism in the region.

This activity is supported by EBRD Advice for Small Businesses in Albania, and EU Enlargement & Eastern Neighbourhood, European Union in Albania under the Single Market Ready Programme in the Western Balkans.

23/05/2026

🎤 Tourism Investment in Albania & the Western Balkans took center stage at the first Mainstage Session of Balkonnect Festival 2026 in Tirana on 21st of May, bringing together leading voices from the EBRD, EU, investment and destination strategy sectors.

The discussion explored how Albania and the Western Balkans can transform growing tourism visibility into sustainable investment opportunities, stronger destination positioning and long-term economic value.

This activity is supported by EBRD Advice for Small Businesses in Albania, and EU Enlargement & Eastern Neighbourhood, European Union in Albania under the Single Market Ready Programme in the Western Balkans.

23/05/2026

Tirana hosted this year’s Balkonnect Festival on 21–22 May 2026 at the iconic Piramida, bringing together leaders from business, investment, and innovation across the region 🌍

The opening ceremony featured keynote remarks from Head of EBRD in Albania, and Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Albania, and Prishtina REA, setting the tone for two dynamic days focused on regional cooperation and growth.

With global investors, startups, SMEs, and industry leaders engaging through sessions, B2B meetings, and networking, the message was clear: the Western Balkans is ready to connect and build opportunities beyond borders.

This activity is supported by EBRD Advice for Small Businesses in Albania, and EU Enlargement & Eastern Neighbourhood, European Union in Albania under the Single Market Ready Programme in the Western Balkans.

20/05/2026

Explore how SMEs can go green through energy efficiency, sustainable buildings, and circular economy practices at Balkonnect Festival 2026 in Tirana, turning sustainability into a competitive advantage 🌱🏢

This activity is supported by EBRD Advice for Small Businesses in Albania, and EU Enlargement & Eastern Neighbourhood, European Union in Albania under the Single Market Ready Programme in the Western Balkans.

🏢 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 & 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐌𝐄𝐬 | 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

This Thematic Cube Session will focus on how SMEs can take practical steps toward greener operations through energy efficiency, sustainable buildings, circular economy practices, innovation and access to green finance.

𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐓𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐝𝐢 will moderate the discussion, bringing the ESG and sustainability consulting perspective, with a strong focus on practical business transformation.

𝐀𝐥𝐦𝐚 𝐋𝐮𝐥𝐣𝐚 will bring the EBRD GEFF perspective, focusing on green finance, energy efficiency investments and the support available for businesses looking to reduce costs and improve sustainability.

𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐚 𝐃𝐚𝐢𝐣𝐚 will contribute the LuxDev perspective on climate, energy transition, private sector development and practical pathways for SMEs to adapt to sustainability requirements.

𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥 𝐄𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐭 will bring the innovation and digital transformation perspective, highlighting how technology and data can help SMEs measure, manage and improve sustainability performance.

𝐅𝐚𝐡𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐀𝐳𝐞𝐦𝐢 will share the green building perspective, focusing on sustainable construction, building performance, certification and the role of standards in creating trust and long-term value.

📍 Tirana
📅 22 May 2026
🕐 13:00 – 14:00
🎤 Thematic Cube Session

Join us at Balkonnect Festival 2026 and be part of the conversations helping SMEs turn sustainability into competitiveness.

https://balkonnect.com

EBRD Advice for Small Businesses in Albania

19/05/2026

Building trust is at the heart of digital finance — explore how secure identity, regulation, and innovation are shaping resilient financial ecosystems at Balkonnect Festival 2026 in Tirana 🔐🚀

This activity is funded by the EU Enlargement & Eastern Neighbourhood, European Union in Albania under the Single Market Ready Programme in the Western Balkans.

🔐 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 & 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲 | 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

This Mainstage Session will explore how trust becomes the foundation of digital finance — from secure identity and payment infrastructure to regulation, banking transformation, fintech adoption and customer confidence.

𝐉𝐨𝐧 𝐉𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐮 will moderate the discussion, bringing the digital identity, trusted services and financial technology perspective through his role as CEO of IT Vision.

𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐯 will contribute the trusted digital services perspective, focusing on how digital identity, qualified electronic signatures and secure onboarding support the future of digital finance.

𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐢𝐝𝐚 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐣 will bring the payment infrastructure perspective, drawing on her experience in digital payments, card processing and fintech operations in Albania.

𝐋𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐮 will share the central bank and payment systems perspective, focusing on regulation, financial infrastructure, security and trust in Albania’s digital finance ecosystem.

𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐚 𝐉𝐚𝐤𝐮𝐩𝐢 will bring the commercial banking and digital channels perspective, highlighting how banks are transforming customer experience and digital service delivery.

𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢 will contribute the banking leadership and fintech perspective, bringing senior experience from TEB, Raiffeisen and now KREI.

𝐀𝐧𝐣𝐞𝐳𝐚 𝐇𝐨𝐛𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢 will bring the EBRD financial sector perspective, addressing digital finance, institutional trust, financial sector development and responsible innovation.

📍 Tirana
📅 22 May 2026
🕑 14:00 – 15:00
🎤 Mainstage Session

Join us at Balkonnect Festival 2026 and be part of the conversation on building a trusted digital finance ecosystem for the Western Balkans.

https://balkonnect.com

EBRD Advice for Small Businesses in Albania