The Minister of Economy, Delina Ibrahimaj, defended the controversial "Durana Tech Park" Technology Park project, stating that Durana is not a tax haven, but a catalyst for boosting the economy.
"Durana Tech Park is a project that affects economic development and is related to the objectives of the Government," said Minister Ibrahimaj.
The Minister of Economy has also justified the virtual variant of the Park's operation. According to her, the 36-month virtual phase serves to test administrative processes, market interest, and the functioning of the structure before the construction of the physical infrastructure.
"Our goal has been to create a sustainable innovation ecosystem, which attracts foreign and domestic investments and creates employment opportunities for young Albanians. Durana is not a tax haven, has nothing to do with tax evasion or avoidance, and operates in full compliance with Albanian legislation," added Minister Ibrahimaj.
Ibrahimaj informed that currently, the park has 80 residents, of which 57 have finalized contracts, while the rest are in the registration and licensing process.
"Of these entities, 52% are with foreign capital and 48% with Albanian capital, reflecting international interest and the development of domestic entrepreneurship. Of the 52 registered companies, 27 have not yet started invoicing, half have not started due to time and nature of innovative projects that need an incubation phase. The real number of companies that have benefited from fiscal incentives during 2025 is 5. Of these, 3 are Albanian and 2 are foreign. Without operating within the park, they would have paid 37,616 euros in profit tax outside the park, while operating within the park they have paid 59,938 euros to the park applied on their annual turnover according to the Durana rules, as it is foreseen that a part of the turnover passes as a contribution. So in this case, since we are talking about Durana as a 100% entity, the state has won and not lost. Conclusion for Mr. Shehaj: The theory of tax evasion and tax haven "It doesn't stand. Here the state has built a structure that functions and monitors economic activity, within legal and international principles," said Ibrahimaj.
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