Embassy of India

Tirana

***

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. Albanian Embassy in Beijing is currently accredited to India.

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.

Interaction between EAM and FM of Albania

• 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. Earlier, in October 29, 2022 EAM met Deputy Foreign Minister of Albania, Ms. Megi Fino, on the sidelines of the UNSC CTC meeting in New Delhi. In September 2022, EAM met then Albanian Foreign Minister Ms. Olta Xhacka on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York. EAM, also 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.

Visits from India

• Then Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Salman Khurshid visited Albania in 1994.

• Mrs. Preneet Kaur, then 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.

• Then Minister of Railways, Shri. Suresh Prabhu, paid a visit to Albania from 23-26 October 2016 to make up for the visit deficits.

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.

• President of Albanian National Assembly, Mrs Joesfina Topalli visited India in December 2010 and extended invitation to Hon’ble Speaker Lok Sabha to visit Albania. 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 on a private visit in December 2015 to attend 7^th World Confluence of Humanity & Spirutality.

• Three officials from Government of AlbaniaMr. Ervin Hajdaraga, Head of Tirana City Health Dept, Ms. Ardita Kongjonaj, Advisor to PM, Ms. Xheni Hatillari, Tirana City Council Member and Mr. Ervin Salianji, 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.

• 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.

• Then Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, Ms. Olta Xhacka addressed Foreign Ministers’ session of virtual “Voice of the South Summit-23” on 13 January 2023.

• H.E. Dr. Entela Ramosacaj, Dy. Minister of Health and Social Protection of Albania participated in the 3^rd Voice of Global South Summit held on 17 August 2024.

• Dr. Olta Manjani, Deputy Minister of Economy, Culture and Innovation of Albania, visited India in February 2025, where she addressed the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry on 13 February and participated as a speaker at the ET Now Global Business Summit on 15–16 February. During her visit, she held interactions with Indian stakeholders to promote trade, cultural linkages, tourism cooperation, and the prospect of establishing a direct Tirana–New Delhi air connection. She also mentioned about a BIT & SSA to promote trade and investment between both countries.

• Ms. Aida Mici, Director MoH And Social welfare, Albania participated at the 2^nd WHO Summit on traditional medicine (17-19 December 2025) in New Delhi.

Foreign Office Consultations

Three rounds of Foreign Office consultations have been held at the level of SG of MEFA and Secretary(West) - 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:

i) FOC: A Protocol on India-Albania Foreign Office Consultations was signed in February 2003 in Tirana.

ii) DTAA: The Agreement was signed in July 2013.

iii) 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.

iv) MoU for Cooperation in the Field of Elections Commission of India and the Central Election Commission of Albania was signed in September 2020.

v) MoU on mutual recognition of Covid-19 vaccination certificates was signed in February 2022.

Mother Teresa

Post-communist Albania has been searching for symbols of self-identification, including those that enable it to connect with its foreign interlocutors. With India, Mother Teresa serves as one such symbol. Her international fame, Albanian ethnicity (despite being born in North Macedonia), and Indian citizenship contribute to Albanian interest in her life. In a Muslim-majority state, Mother Teresa is an important symbol of plurality. Tirana International Airport has been named after her. The Albanian government requested the transfer of Mother Teresa's remains from India to Albania. This request was made at high levels by Albanian leadership, including former Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha, Prime Minister Sali Berisha, and President Bamir Topi. The Government of India did not agree to this proposal. In her centenary year, 2010, a symbolic pathway of peace was inaugurated in Tirana. Albania observes Mother Teresa Day (Dita e Nënë Terezës) as an official national public holiday on 5 September each year, commemorating her canonization by Pope Francis and coinciding with the anniversary of her passing in 1997.

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 & oil (2022-23 and 2023-24), Ceramic products, Coffee, Granite Stone, Industrial machinery, Marine products, Plaster and Spices.

(* The sharp increase in exports during FY 2022–23 and FY 2023–24 was primarily driven by temporary shipments of mineral fuels and refined petroleum products following energy market disruptions caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As European supply chains stabilised, fuel exports from India to Albania declined significantly, and bilateral trade has since reverted to pre-conflict levels).

The main import items into India are: Iron and Steel, Salt; Sulphur; Earths and Stone; Plastering Materials, Lime and Herbal Products.

GOI Assistance to Albania

India has extended humanitarian assistance of 50 0,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine (Covishield) 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, 2024-25 & 2025-26 two slots were allotted to Albania which were availed of by the Albanian participants.

Albanian diplomats have also attended various courses conducted by SSIFS, New Delhi, for Foreign Diplomats. Albanian diplomatMr. Serxho Matarku participated in 2017 and Mr. Shkelzen Logu participated in the Professional Course for Foreign Diplomats (PCFD) from 18–31 May 2025.

As part of ongoing media engagement and people-to-people exchanges, two journalists from Albania participated from 28 October to 6 November 2025 and from 13 to 20 March 2024 under a familiarization programme in India.

Culture

Indian films are shown on 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.

Indian Community

There is a small Indian community in Albania of approx. 700, which includes 294 students. Most of others are temporary workers.

February 2026