Qubad Talabani, Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, initiated an official visit to Albania on Monday, holding high-level talks with Prime Minister Edi Rama to unlock mutual investment opportunities in trade and tourism.

Talabani arrived in the country alongside a delegation including Planning Minister Dara Rashid, Head of the Tourism Board Zhwan Sabir, and Deputy Head of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations Daban Shadala.

The talks centered on enhancing coordination to build strong bilateral relations in trade, tourism, and the exchange of institutional expertise. 

Talabani Praises Albania's Modernization Efforts, Boosting Bilateral Ties 

During the talks, Qubad Talabani “praised the Albanian government's reform efforts, specifically highlighting their work in modernization, institutional strengthening, and infrastructure development.” 

He also praised Albania's progress in advancing tourism and integrating technology into public services to create a favorable investment climate. 

Talabani and Prime Minister Rama further “emphasized joint cooperation to foster direct connections between their respective private sectors, with a particular focus on the fields of tourism and investment.”

Previous Diplomatic Exchange 

Prior to his official visit to Albania today, Qubad Talabani last met with Rama on April 22 this year, during the Delphi Economic Forum in Greece. Rama extended the official invitation for the current bilateral visit aimed at expanding trade, tourism, and investment ties.

Evolution of Kurdish-Albanian Ties 

The foundation of relations and strategic ties between the Kurdistan Region and Albania was laid in 2014 when the country became one of the early international partners to directly supply weapons and military equipment to the Kurdish Peshmerga forces fighting ISIS. 

Albania views the Kurdistan Region as a reliable, stabilizing actor in the Middle East, with Prime Minister Edi Rama previously praising the region's balanced diplomatic stance during major international tensions. 

Current diplomatic efforts have shifted from security cooperation toward economic growth, with both sides actively building frameworks to expand trade, boost tourism, and foster private sector investment.