Finance Minister Petrit Malaj met with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission on the Public Investment Management Assessment (PIMA), led by Ian Hawkesworth.

The meeting aimed to discuss the IMF’s findings and assessment of the efficiency of public investments in the country - details of which are included in a report the Fund expects to publish soon.

During the meeting, the progress and significant improvements Albania has achieved in recent years regarding the planning and management of public investments were highlighted, the Finance Ministry said in a press release.

Public investments in the country have hovered around 6.5% of GDP in recent years and are expected to remain at high levels as Albania continues its European Union accession process. Medium-term plans envisage further investments in key sectors such as transport, energy, digitalization, and enhancing resilience to climate change. Minister Malaj emphasized that the IMF assessment results show Albania performing on par with European Union nations and developed economies worldwide regarding the planning and management of public investments.

This improvement is reflected in key aspects of public finance management, including budgetary discipline, fund allocation methods, and increased transparency and competitiveness in public procurement.

"Public funds are being invested more effectively today," Malaj noted, stressing that this is not merely an assessment by Albanian institutions but progress also recognized by international bodies such as the International Monetary Fund.

This progress is particularly significant as it directly relates to how state budget funds are utilized for investments in sectors vital to citizens, such as infrastructure, healthcare, and education.

Minister Malaj highlighted the importance of the transparent and competitive use of public funds - especially for investments in roads, hospitals, or schools - stressing that simply allocating funds in the budget is not enough. It is crucial that these funds be utilized as efficiently as possible and that every lek spent delivers maximum added value for the citizens.

The IMF assessment serves as a positive indicator of the progress achieved in this regard; however, as Minister Malaj emphasized, while this is good news, the work is far from over. The objective remains to continue reforms and further strengthen the mechanisms that ensure efficient planning and management of public investments.

In this context, the Ministry of Finance will continue its efforts to ensure that every lek of Albanian citizens' money and every public investment generates greater development, higher-quality services, and increased value for Albania.

The IMF has evaluated Albania's progress in the planning and management of public investments through the Public Investment Management Assessment (PIMA), a tool that measures the quality of public investment management.

In a video message shared on social media, Minister of Finance Petrit Malaj stated that the IMF assessment demonstrates that public funds are being used more efficiently and that Albania is improving its practices regarding the management of public funds. He emphasized that progress is linked to the management and allocation of budget funds, as well as to increased transparency and competitiveness in public procurement.