Why Kosovo companies are landing in Albania

Albania's return to tourist destination, which has increased consumption by foreigners, is the other attraction for Kosovo's retail trade and services businesses.

At the end of March 2025, the company from Kosovo, “Veva Fresh Store”, announced that it has reached an agreement to purchase “SPAR Albania” by Albanian Group BALFIN.

The final value of the transaction was 36.4m euros, according to the transaction registered at the National Business Centre.

After the acquisition announcement, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (BERZH) and fund “Enterprise Expansion Fund II” (ENEF II), under the European Union's Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), announced they would lend up to 25m euros to partially cover the cost of buying “SPAR Albania” ) with BERZH contributing 22m euros and ENEF II with 3m euros.

This is the biggest loan the BERZH has ever provided for a local company in Kosovo. After the acquisition, “Veva Fresh” plans to expand activity in Albania with the opening of new stores and renovation of existing “points SpAR”

The capital company from Kosovo, “Albi Holding” bought in September 2025 “Fashion Group Albania”, which was part of the BALFIN Group, for 7.6m euros, under the contract deposited in the GDP.

The purchasing company owns the chain of fashion products operating in Kosovo and the region, representing international brands such as “Celio”, “Chaussea”, “Okaidi”, ” Springfield”, “Ozdick”, “Geox”, “Gant”, <x16Timberland”, “Huggo Boss”, “Sports Armani Exchange”, “Tom Taylor”, “XYZ”, “U n GG”, “Plain Sport”, “Orsey”, “Dan John”, “Porfois”, “Boggi”

In October 2025, KAN, headquartered in Kosovo, which manages 35 fast service restaurants and 1,000 employees in the region (Kosovo, Albania, Northern Macedonia and Montenegro), officially announced the takeover of KFC network ownership in Albania by “Global Fast Food Albania”, which so far had the right to the global fast food brand, KFC for Albania.

The company said it plans to open 20 new KFC points throughout Albania.

KAN is a registered company in Kosovo, owned only by businessman Fatmir Zymber. His group was already present in Albania through the company “Canadian Living”, which owns the right to use the Danish mark “Jysk” for Albania and other countries in the region.

“TP Investment Limited”, while having control owners of businessmen from Georgia.

“Global Fast Albany” closed the year 2024 with a total ride in the value of 1.44 billion dollars, increasing by 18% compared to a year ago. Net profit amounted to approximately $1141 million, also increasing, at 23% more compared to 2023.

At the end of 2024, the company owned 13 active restaurants in Albania, out of which 11 with the brand KFC and two with the brand “Pizza Hut”.

Why Kosovo companies are moving to Albania

Ramiz Kelmendi, renowned businessman in Kosovo, owner of E companies LCOS and ETC, tells “Monitor” that the interest in Kosovo business investments in Albania has always been great. According to him, this is a positive thing, since any business, whether big or small, is aimed at enlargement.

“We as ELCOS/ ETC continues to invest in Albania. Currently, in Tirana we are building a major business facility.

Our goal and of other businesses from Kosovo is to expand, and this expansion is taking place in our neighbouring country, Albania. So, our goal and similar businesses is to expand as much, add here the fact that we are going not far, but to our country, such as Albania”, says Mr. Kelmendi.

He adds that expanding Kosovo's businesses should continue and that the potential also has in other countries such as Serbia, Northern Macedonia, Montenegro and beyond.

“The expansion of Kosovo businesses should be, I believe there are even later in Serbia, northern Macedonia, Montenegro and further away. But one thing has to be mentioned that some businesses are leaving Kosovo entirely and going to Albania. So, not expanding, but moving”.

However, he says Kosovo is currently going through an uncertain period economically and politically.

For now, we don't have functional institutions, switch from elections to elections, there's no stability and security.

The government and institutions must work for the good of businesses and create favourable conditions, but currently appear to be working against them, forcing businesses to adjust to non-friendly rules”, Mr. Kelmendi.

The statement Ahmeti, director of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, tells “Monitor” that Albania has long been attractive to many companies from Kosovo.

Albania has long become an interest point for many companies from Kosovo. One of the main factors affecting this movement concerns the need for our business to expand its activity, as our country is unfortunately not offering many opportunities.

Not to be overlooked is the growth of tourists who are increasing their purchases. Albania has for a long time been offering different incentives for Kosovo businesses, whether formal or informal.

Apart from companies in service, or even Kosovo's recognised hypermarkets, production companies are going towards Albania, due to the many problems facing Kosovo”.

He emphasises that the difficulties of doing business in Kosovo have taken on greater proportions in recent years, mainly because of decisions made without communication and co-operation with the business community.

The difficulties of doing business in recent years have increased greatly. For example, we, like the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, have been dealing with the unblocking of many companies, whose blockades the Public Property Law has caused them.

Business continues to feel the effects of this <x0 block. He adds that the increase in the price of energy by 16.1% for regulated consumers, and then the poor liberalisation of the energy market has exacerbated the situation.

“then we have increased the price of energy by 16.1% for regulated consumers and then immediately the wrong liberalisation of the energy market.

From the beginning, we have warned the consequences of these actions, but we have not had any readiness from institutions to overcome this situation, writes Monitor. al, broadcast Periscope.

So now we have an increase in product prices, a rise in production costs, several times more expensive bills in energy, a drop in production power, great uncertainty about the future, total suspension and cancellation of investment plans, etc.”.

Investments and the Number of Companies Increase

The Bank of Albania's data suggests that the interest of enterprises from Kosovo to invest in Albania has been very high since the pandemic, while by 2019, the flow was almost in existence. In 2024, investments from Kosovo reached the record 96m euros, up from 13m euros in 2019.

In terms of total investment, weight has reached 6%. The rising trend followed, and in the first part of 2025, with 63m euros, a 50% expansion.

According to data from the Statistics Institute (INSTAT), at the end of 2024, 582 active capital companies from Kosovo were operating in Albania, including those with common capital.

The number of capital companies from Kosovo has increased by 12% compared to a year ago. In the past decade's arch, the number of these businesses has increased by 130%.

Interested in Real estate Market

Attention has been made to the real estate market. Muhamet Bytyqi, who is also a real estate connoisseur, owner of “Marc Real Estate”, says that in Kosovo, the construction market is fed up, especially in cities like Pristina and Ferizaj.

In Albania, meanwhile, there is a high demand for housing and property, especially from foreigners and the Albanian diaspora.

This makes the Albanian market more dynamic and open to investments, especially for construction companies that have experience and capital from Kosovo”, he claims.

Mr. Bytyqi adds that construction companies from Kosovo have purchased parts in Albanian companies for legal access, for obtaining construction permits faster, and for building with local partners.

There are businesses in other areas, trade, energy, transport that are doing the same. Even the current political situation in Kosovo has created a lack of a full government, uncertainty about strategic decisions and rising energy prices has created uncertain environments for businesses.

Political uncertainty causes investment decisions to be delayed or more cautious. Businesses do not want to keep large capital in a market with vague rules and stability”. /Periscope/