Minister Ibrahimaj Unveils Incentives Aimed at Strengthening Albania’s Start-Up Ecosystem

The government will provide tax incentives to firms who invest in the start-up ecosystem, in an effort to stimulate innovation and economic development. Delina Ibrahimaj, Minister of Economy and Innovation, said that beginning next year, sponsorships and financial contributions to the start-up ecosystem would be recognized as deductible expenses of up to 5% of pre-tax profit as part of the 2026 Fiscal Package, which is likely to be adopted shortly.
The statement was made during the opening ceremony of “Global Entrepreneurship Week 2025,” which was hosted in Tirana from November 17 to 23 under the theme “Building Together.” This year’s edition is organized around four major themes: economic modernization through innovation, ecosystem building with Albania serving as a regional innovation hub, wide public involvement, and empowering the next generation.
Minister Ibrahimaj noted that the fiscal incentive is intended to encourage firms to engage in research, development, and innovation, thereby directly contributing to higher productivity and modernization of the private sector. She went on to say that companies continue to be the primary driver of economic growth, and that public policies must be closely aligned with their demands in order to support long-term development.
“Global Entrepreneurship Week” has grown into an essential platform for exchanging ideas and experiences between the business community and the government, and it is now held in Albania for the third year in a row. This edition includes over 63 events in Tirana and other locations focused on youth, innovation, and high-growth businesses.
This week will see the presentation of two important reports for the first time: the Start-Up Ecosystem Report, which was prepared in collaboration with Start-up GNOM, and the Labour Market Trends Report for the information technology sector, which is rapidly growing and creating high-paying jobs.