Prime Minister Edi Rama expanded his diplomatic travel itinerary this Friday, moving from European metropolises to East Asia. The head of government, accompanied by his wife Linda Rama and an official delegation, traveled to South Korea on a charter flight, the cost of which is estimated to have exceeded 300 thousand dollars.
This bill, which does not include accommodation costs and other delegation expenses, comes at a time when the cost of living crisis and rising prices remain the main concerns for Albanian families.
If trips to Europe have always been sold to us under the guise of integration, this trip to Seoul is designed as an opportunity to "deepen strategic cooperation." However, beyond standard diplomatic language, the two countries do not have any notable history of economic exchanges or strategic relations.
According to the official agenda, Rama is expected to deliver a speech at an international Asian leadership conference, where global challenges, geopolitical changes, and the role of artificial intelligence in governance will be discussed.
The contrast is obvious. While Albania is still ranked among the countries with the lowest incomes in the region and faces acute challenges such as corruption and the decline in trust in institutions, the prime minister chooses international stages to give lectures. This is an Albanian paradox that is being exported all the way to Asia, only this time the cost we paid is extremely high, with over 300 thousand dollars for the trip alone.
