Rama in New York: Albania is creating a national diaspora registry, “a window to invest in Albania”

During a meeting with the Albanian community in Staten Island, New York, Prime Minister Edi Rama announced that the Albanian government has begun creating a national diaspora registry. According to him, the registry will serve as “a window for all those who want to invest, however little or however much, in Albania”.

Rama referred to the 2030 national diaspora strategy, adopted at the latest diaspora summit. He emphasized that the strategy rests on four main pillars: governance and services, diaspora dialogue and expertise, economy and innovation, and language and culture for the youngest.

According to him, the most important change in the relationship with the diaspora is not merely formal, but has happened “in the mindset”, turning it into a “very inclusive and organic” relationship.

“From the latest diaspora summit, we emerged with a 2030 national diaspora strategy, which in its makeup, in its content, includes governance and services, diaspora dialogue and expertise, the economy and innovation, as well as language and culture for the youngest. We have started creating a national diaspora registry as a window for all those who want to invest, however little or however much, in Albania — and most importantly, this change in this relationship did not happen merely on the surface, but happened in the mindset, in what today is a very inclusive, very organic relationship. And part of this organicity were also the eggs thrown at me a few nights ago, which showed that active Albanian life and life with political Albania and developments in Albania is something that has now integrated together Albanians in Albania and Albanians wherever they are,” Rama said.

In his speech, Rama also commented on the egg-throwing incident a few nights earlier, calling it a sign of Albanian integration.

“One of the egg throwers had come from England to throw eggs. He could have come straight to Tirana, but preferred to come to New York,” he said, adding that he hoped the person “had a good time with the New York police too.” He noted that in the security detail deployed after the incident, the leading officer was an Albanian serving in the New York police.

“Thanks to this great integration of Albanians into the life of this country and thanks to the great interest of Albanians in the life of that country, I felt completely at home. Both the police and the protesters — just like in Albania,” Rama said.

The prime minister compared today’s Albania with the past, stressing that the country is no longer “a man with a stretched-out hand asking for help”, but “a man with open arms to welcome investments, partnerships and anyone’s experience, starting with the experience of Albanians outside the country”.

He stressed that, while some families still need help, Albania as a country has moved from the problems of survival to those of development. “The time when Albania thought ‘it could be worse’ was the time when we started this journey together. Today Albania says ‘it could be better’ — and that is our daily challenge,” Rama declared.