Albania

Albania is a country located in the western part of the Balkan peninsula. It borders the former Yugoslavia (Serbia-Montenegro) and Kosovo in the north and the east and Greece in the south. It has access to the Adriatic and Ionian Seas in the west. The country is less than 100 km from Italy and has a population of 3.3 million people. There are 9 airports in the country to enable international travel.

Albania is currently going through a transition to create a more open-market economy. Agriculture still accounts for 56% of the economy with the services sector increasing in recent years to 23% of the economy.

The major industries in the country are food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals and hydropower.

Investment Promotion Agency:

Albanian Economic Development Agency

Culture and Travel:

See guide from LonelyPlanet.com Top10 countries for 2011: "Not so long ago, when the Balkans were considered an ‘only for the brave’ travel destination, only the bravest of the brave trickled into Albania. Since backpackers started coming to elusive Albania in the 1990s, tales have been told in ‘keep it to yourself’ whispers of azure beaches, confrontingly good cuisine, heritage sites, nightlife, affordable adventures and the possibility of old-style unplanned journeys complete with open-armed locals for whom travellers are still a novelty. Sick to death of being dismissed with blinged-up crime-boss clichés, Albania has announced ‘A New Mediterranean Love’ via its tourist board. The jig is almost up – Albania won’t be off the beaten track for much longer."

External Links

Library of Congress: Country Studies

Excellent source of historical information about a country; "The Country Studies Series presents a description and analysis of the historical setting and the social, economic, political, and national security systems and institutions of countries throughout the world.

• Albania