Minister Ibrahimaj Says Albanian Economy Grew by 3.71% in the First Quarter of 2026, Outperforming the Western Balkans and EU Average

Albania’s GDP grew by 3.71% in the first quarter of 2026, continuing its upward trend and outpacing the average growth rates of the Western Balkans (3.6%) and the European Union (1%). The data were revealed by Delina Ibrahimaj, Minister of Economy and Innovation, at a press briefing on economic progress and key economic indicators.
The minister stated that the public administration, healthcare, and education sectors, as well as building and real estate activity, were the primary drivers of economic growth. Construction increased by 3.33%, trade, transport, and accommodation services by 1.61%, communications by 2.48%, financial activities by 5%, and professional activities by 7.32%, with real estate activities growing the most at 8.9%.
Minister Ibrahimaj stated that agriculture, forestry, and fishing fell by 0.49%, owing mostly to poor performance in livestock farming and fisheries, despite the agricultural sub-sector growing by 8.8%. Industry also shrank by 2.17%, with reductions in the extractive and textile industries, while the electrical sector grew by 8.34%. During the same period, exports increased by 9.36%, while imports increased by 7.39%.
Minister Ibrahimaj underlined that foreign direct investment (FDI) remains one of the country’s primary drivers of economic development. According to her, the largest investment inflows came from Austria, Italy, and the Netherlands.