"Double entrepreneurship"/ Rama: Large businesses without access to the program, small and medium-sized ones will grow

2026-07-17 13:08:00, Politikë CNA

"Double entrepreneurship"/ Rama: Large businesses without access to

Prime Minister Edi Rama is present at the "Double Your Entrepreneurship" program activity.

During his speech, Rama stated that with this program, the government aims to help grow small and medium-sized enterprises.

Among other things, he added that he will take second-tier banks out of their comfort zone, which according to him do not fight for their profits.

Rama announced that, through the UNDP office in Tirana, international experts will be engaged to assist businesses in their plans.

He also emphasized that large enterprises will not have access to this program.

"We aim to help small and medium-sized enterprises to double in size. Those that are medium-sized to grow and become large, and those that are small to grow and become medium-sized. Given that banks have a whole manual of excuses that they use with high efficiency, one of these is that business plans are not sufficiently committed."

We have also engaged the UNDP office, through which we will engage international experts and have a group ready to assist businesses in turning their ideas into convincing projects for banks.

The Ministry of Economy will have its own role to ensure coordination between business and the expert group. We have made available an online page, on which there is an opportunity to address the ministry directly. A cycle of meetings in the territory is also planned to meet with businesses, but also to encourage certain businesses to get involved in this program.

"When it comes to rural development, the government prioritizes agro-processing, because we have a lot of unprocessed space. A new element of the program is the support of joint ventures. Large enterprises will not have access to this program, despite the tricks they may try," Rama said.

Among other things, it has been stated that the government is ready to increase the fund for this program to 1 billion euros.

"We will set up a task force, with representatives of the government, UNDP and the Association of Banks, to analyze the results and see where intervention is needed and where the program is stalling. The figures are all very positive, but at this time there is a big problem. The more positive the figures are, the more they irritate people. The more you say that the economy has grown, the more tension is produced. Every time you say that businesses have increased, you will face the opposite effect of good news.

The success of others is a reason to seek success for oneself. Any kind of difference with others is a reason to be irritated. This program is also important from a psychological point of view for enterprises. We are ready to go up to 1 billion euros for small and medium-sized enterprises, so that no one can say that I do not have financial support for my plan. But they must have a plan that the bank approves. This money is like European Union funds. We will conduct an entire information campaign with ministers according to their sector of responsibility , "said Rama. /CNA