The largest maritime export operation of Albania started on Tuesday from the southern port city of Saranda, which includes Japan in the map of Albanian exports.

The maritime export operation includes a total of 27 destinations, up from 3 destination in 2013, Prime Minister Edi Rama said during a visit in Saranda, accompanied by the Ambassador of Japan in Tirana, Takada Mitsuyuki and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Frida Krifca.

The officials witnessed a demonstration that took place in Saranda at a sea farm on the occasion of the start of the export of tuna fish.

Rama said that "the Albanian fishing sector is already a competitive industry in the international market and after increasing by five times its exports in the first two terms of the government, the aim is to double in the third term."

On the other hand, the Ambassador of Japan praised the good work done by the company operating the sea farm and Albanian entrepreneur Gjergj Luca.

“This is a challenging new business in Albania and I am sure that this business can contribute to bilateral trade volumes, as it is a continuous and sustainable business,” he said.

The Japanese Ambassador also expressed his conviction that this venture could bring other investments from Japan to Albania.

The tuna cultivation farm for export to the Ionian Sea is built and managed with the necessary standards for the Japanese market.

Albania aims to become one of the largest points in the Mediterranean for growing and trading tuna fish worldwide.

In recent years, a number of fiscal facilities have been created for the fisheries sector, such as the abolition of excise duty on fuel, the abolition of the carbon tax, zero value-added tax (VAT) on nets, ships, electronic equipment, as well as zero VAT on refrigerators and engines of fishing vessels.

Increased investments combined with the growing demand of the foreign market have led to the export of fish to mark a significant increase in recent years. Compared to 2013, exports have increased by four times in 2020 to 8,219 tons.