While emigration is increasing year after year and the majority of Albanians, the most productive part, live abroad with 2.2 million inhabitants according to the latest data from the Emigration Survey, on the other hand, the government and institutions have failed to implement the program and strategies for emigrants.
Scary increase in emigration, 2.2 million Albanians live abroad
Some immigrants who have been living abroad for two decades want to contribute, especially to the areas where they were born, but they face obstacles and institutional disregard.
Members of the Albanian diaspora interviewed by INSTAT are actively engaged in a wide range of initiatives that contribute to the cultural, academic, economic and institutional development of the country in the countries they live in. Around one in five members of the diaspora is active in diaspora organizations and associations, mainly in the function of promoting the Albanian identity abroad, through language schools, cultural activities and community events.
However, according to the survey, diaspora engagement in our country is limited by a number of challenges. Discussions with various diaspora members and organizations during the INSTAT survey highlight institutional obstacles, including the limited activity of key institutions such as the National Diaspora Agency and the Albanian Diaspora Development Fund, as well as difficulties in inter-ministerial coordination.
Immigrants point to the lack of a centralized diaspora database, while there are limited information and communication campaigns for diaspora engagement.
According to the survey, there is a lack of structured mechanisms for diaspora professionals to contribute to the development of Albania, often remaining only in initiatives.
"There is a lack of trust in Albanian institutions and concerns about excessive bureaucracy, especially among professionals. There are concerns about the business climate, gaps in the legal framework to support investors from the diaspora and a lack of funds dedicated to channeling investments. There has been a growing cultural disconnect among the second and third generations of the diaspora who are assimilating abroad, leading to a weakening of ties with Albanian heritage," the survey notes.
Economically, members of the diaspora are increasingly looking beyond traditional remittances to more strategic forms of investment, including real estate, tourism, and technology ventures. But the Albanian government is failing to absorb the diaspora’s human and financial capital, reducing the country’s benefits from this great potential./ B.Hoxha/Monitor
