Embassy of India

Tirana

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India - Albania Relations
 

India and Albania established diplomatic relations in 1956. Albania had a Mission in New Delhi since early 2008 and the first Albanian Ambassador to India presented his credentials to the President in October 2010. The Mission was closed down in 2014. Government of India has opened a resident Mission in Albania in August 2024.

Bilateral Relations

At present, the bilateral relations between India and Albania are characterized by their positive, amicable, and future-oriented nature. Additionally, both nations engage in cooperative endeavors within various multilateral forums.

Recent High-Level Interactions

• External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met Albanian Foreign Minister Mr. Igli Hasani on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi on February 22, 2024.
• In September 2022, EAM met then Albanian Foreign Minister Ms. Olta Xhacka on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York.
• External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met Deputy Foreign Minister of Albania, Ms. Megi Fino, on the sidelines of the UNSC CTC meeting on October 29, 2022, in New Delhi.
• External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar had a meeting with then Albanian Acting Foreign Minister Mr. Gent Cakaj on the sidelines of the 74th Session of the UNGA in New York in September 2019.
• Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, Ms. Olta Xhacka addressed Foreign Ministers’ session of virtual “Voice of the Global South Summit-23” on 13 January 2023.
• Ms. Albana Tole, Deputy Minister of Education and Sports of the Republic of Albania participated in the Voice of Global South Summit held on 17 November, 2023.

Visits from India

• Former Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Salman Khurshid visited Albania in 1994.
• Mrs. Preneet Kaur, former MoS (External Affairs) visited Albania in July 2012, accompanied by a CII delegation. During her visit an MOU for Cooperation was signed between CII and the Albanian National Chamber of Commerce.
• Minister of Railways, Shri. Suresh Prabhu, paid a visit to Albania from 23-26 October 2016.

Visits from Albania

• In 1997 the President of the Albanian National Assembly, Pjeter Arbnori visited New Delhi for an Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting.
• Albanian President Rexhep Meidani went to Kolkata in 1997 to attend the funeral of Mother Teresa. Paskal Milo, a former Foreign Minister of Albania, visited India in the capacity of Head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly.
• The first visit by an Albanian Foreign Minister took place in December 2008 when Mr. Lulzim Basha visited India.
• Mrs. Topalli again visited India to attend the Conference of Women Speakers in September 2012.
• The First Lady of Albania Mrs. Odeta Nishani visited India in December 2015.
• Three officials from Government of Albania and one Member of Parliament visited India to attend 11^th Batch of GenNext Democracy Network Programme from 17- 26 August, 2023.
• Dr. Ornela Cuci, former Vice Minister of Environment and Tourism of Albania visited India under ICCR’s important Visitor’s Programme from 1 – 8 October, 2023.

Foreign Office Consultations

Three rounds of Foreign Office consultations have been held - the first was held in February 2003 in Tirana. The second FOC was in New Delhi in January 2006, and third was held in March 2023 in New Delhi.

Agreements

Following protocol/agreement have been signed between India and Albania:

1. FOC: A Protocol on India-Albania Foreign Office Consultations was signed in February 2003 in Tirana.
2. DTAA: The Agreement was signed in July 2013.
3. Visa Waiver Agreement for Diplomatic and Official Passport was signed in Tirana on 27 November 2015. The Agreement has come into force w.e.f. 20 January 2018.
4. MoU for Cooperation in the Field of Elections Commission of India and the Central Election Commission of Albania was signed in September 2020.
5. MoU on mutual recognition of Covid-19 vaccination certificates was signed in February 2022.

Trade and Investment

India-Albania trade statistics for the last five years are as follows:

(Department of Commerce, Govt. of India statistics US$ million)

The main export items from India are: Mineral fuels, Mineral oils, Ceramic products, Stone, Plaster, Cement, Asbestos, Mica or similar materials, Coffee, Tea, Mate and Spices, Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery.

The main import items into India are: Iron and Steel, Salt; Sulphur; Earths and Stone; Plastering Materials, Lime, and Cement, Ores , Slag and Ash, Nuclear reactor, Boilers, Machinery and Mechanical Appliances; parts thereof , Aluminium and Articles thereof.

GOI Assistance to Albania

India has extended humanitarian assistance of 50,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine (Covid shield) to the Republic of Albania to fight the pandemic on 18 April 2021.

ITEC and Other Exchanges

Albania has been availing of the ITEC slots offered to it by the Government of India under its ITEC Scholarship programme. In 2023-24, three slots were allotted to Albania out of which two slots were availed of by the Albanian participants. Albanian diplomats have also attended various courses conducted by SSIFS, New Delhi, for Foreign Diplomats.

Two journalists from Albania visited India from 13-20 March 2024 under Familiarization Visit Programme of XP Division of Ministry of External Affairs for Journalists. During the visit, the journalists also visited Agra and Hyderabad and also had interaction with EAM.

Culture

Indian films are shown on state-run Albanian television which is state-run and a few Indian films have been shot on location. An ICCR sponsored Manipuri Dance troupe visited Albania in November 2012 and performed during the centenary celebrations of Albania’s independence. An ICCR sponsored classical Indian dance troupe (Mohiniattam form) visited Tirana, Albania, and performed on 6 June 2019. An International Film Festival was held in Tirana where six movies directed by Satyajit Ray (the renowned Indian filmmaker) were screened during 24-28 September 2023.

The International Day of Yoga has been celebrated in Tirana, Albania every year since 2015. The 10^th International Day of Yoga 2024 was celebrated in Tirana and more than 100 yoga enthusiasts participated in the event.

Indian Community

There is a small Indian community in Albania of approx. 400. Most of them are temporary workers.