Albania's Ministry of Finance published an update on Finance Minister Petrit Malaj’s participation in the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group Spring Meetings in Washington, where he presented Albania’s macroeconomic and fiscal position and discussed priorities with senior IMF and World Bank officials. The delegation, which included Bank of Albania Governor Gent Sejko, met with IMF European Department Director Alfred Kammer, the new IMF mission chief for Albania Diego Cerdeiro, World Bank Executive Director for Albania Matteo Bugamelli and World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Antonella Bassani. The discussions covered Albania’s economic and financial developments, policy priorities for safeguarding economic and financial stability, and the importance of continuing reforms linked to sustainable development and European integration. Malaj cited 3.8% GDP growth in 2025 and a 4% growth forecast for 2026, unemployment at 8.3% in 2025, an 8.7% increase in average wages and foreign direct investment of EUR 1.63 billion in 2025 (up 3.4% year on year); he also pointed to public debt falling to 52.9% of GDP at end-2025 (from 65% in 2019) and budget revenues rising 6.2% to around ALL 754.6 billion. Alongside the Spring Meetings programme, Malaj and Sejko attended a closed-door IMF European Department meeting with finance ministers and central bank governors from Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe, and Malaj also took part in discussions on establishing the Southeast Europe Technical Assistance Center (SEETAC), described as a regional capacity-building initiative led by Italy with involvement from the Bank of Italy. Separate engagements included a meeting with US State Department Under Secretary for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg, participation in the ninth ministerial roundtable on Ukraine, and a World Bank “Water Forward” event where Albania referenced objectives through 2030 for long-term water security.
Ministry of Finance (Albania) 2026-04-20
Albania's Ministry of Finance reports 2025 growth of 3.8% and public debt at 52.9% of GDP at the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings
Albania’s Finance Ministry reported on Minister Petrit Malaj’s participation in the IMF–World Bank Spring Meetings, where he presented Albania’s macro-fiscal position and reforms to safeguard stability. He highlighted 2025 projections: 3.8% GDP growth, 8.3% unemployment, an 8.7% rise in average wages, EUR 1.63 billion in FDI, public debt at 52.9% of GDP, and budget revenues of about ALL 754.6 billion. Malaj and Bank of Albania Governor Gent Sejko also joined regional policy discussions, including on the planned Southeast Europe Technical Assistance Center and long-term water security initiatives.