In the first six months of 2026, Italy confirmed its position as Albania’s leading trading partner, accounting for 27% of the country’s total trade volume. Italy absorbs 39% of Albanian exports and supplies more than 22% of the products imported here. This strong, longtime commercial relation has contributed to the impressive global growth of Made in Italy: EUR 643 billion in 2025, an increase of EUR 20 billion over 2024, with a trade surplus in April 2026 of EUR 4.293 billion, up from EUR 2.448 billion year on year. Diversification is our superpower: one in five Italian exporters serves at least ten markets—the highest proportion among major EU economies.

Made in Italy, which accounts for nearly 50% of our export, is neither a registered trademark nor a purely performance-driven idea of work, but an implicit promise of quality, craftsmanship and taste. An Italian product tells the story of the “culture” that created it. The key-concept is excellence: this is the unmatched result not of a simple, well-designed communication campaign, but of centuries of manufacturing and, plus, the ability of knowledge-transfer, which allows firms to turn individual insights into repeatable organizational standards, improving efficiency, innovation and long-term sustainability. A strong export capacity depends on healthy and competitive companies, resilient supply chains, and public policies functional to simplifying trade and customs procedures, reducing delays at borders, and helping firms meet regulatory requirements.

Economic diplomacy contributes to support the internationalization of Italian firms, by boosting both exports (Made in Italy) and foreign direct investments (Made with Italy), as well as by attracting foreign investments to Italy. The brand-new Directorate for Growth and Export Promotion at our Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a key-pillar of the last modernization reform, designed by minister Tajani to prioritize economic and growth diplomacy, supports business internationalization and drives Italian export toward the ambitious goal of EUR 700 by 2027. Economic diplomacy is a strategic force because, in addition to creating add value for businesses, it fosters three important systemic effects:

i) Supply chain consolidation, through agreements, mergers and business networks which shield the entire supply chain from global fluctuations;

ii) Capital attraction: the more solid and internationally open firms are, the easier for them is to attract foreign investments, while keeping know-how and production rooted in Italy;

iii) Tech-investment: financially robust companies can leverage their margins to focus on innovation and digitalization—the lifeblood needed to compete.

In Albania, Italian economic diplomacy faces four challenges, all essential to consolidate our position as the leading trade partner.

The first one lies in the need to address not only the initial phase of the internationalization process—namely, business promotion—but also the second one: business protection. Helping businesses grow is key, but safeguarding their operations and market interests is equally needed to create outcomes that benefit both the companies and Italy as a whole.

Secondly, promoting new trade and investment agreements, to maximize the economic bilateral cooperation, enhance active market exposure and consolidate both countries’ positioning in the international markets.

Thirdly, strengthening our export performance, prioritizing value-added products with high level of technological sophistication.

The fourth challenge is cooperating to establish a kind of “economic diplomacy building model”, a multi-phase roadmap specifically designed to promote knowledge-sharing and exchange of best practice, to leverage the collective wisdom of our people.

In doing so, Italian economic diplomacy can fully leverage its strengths and potential for the benefit of our country’s business ecosystem, while simultaneously becoming a genuine driver of growth and development for the benefit of bilateral economic relations with Albania, a long-standing partner that Italy wants to accompany along its path to joining the European Union. /ADN

*Mr. Marco Alberti is the Ambassador of Italy to Albania