TIRANA, December 23 – Self-employment is increasingly becoming a real path for career building among young people in Albania. Interest in support programs has reached the highest level in years.

During an event organized under the Self-Employment Program, Minister of Economy and Innovation, Delina Ibrahimaj, highlighted the concrete stories of young people who turned simple ideas into sustainable economic activities. She stressed that choosing to start a business requires courage and commitment, especially in the early stage, where ideas must be structured and translated into daily work.

This year, the program recorded its highest interest since inception, with 233 applicants selected as beneficiaries. In total, 670 people have received support since the program started. The minister emphasized that behind these figures are personal stories, concrete effort, and continuous engagement.

The Youth Guarantee continues to play a key role, supporting self-employment for the second consecutive year. Over the next three years, more than 500 young people are expected to receive dedicated support.

Ibrahimaj noted that public policies will not stop at the launch stage. Support will extend during business growth and expansion, improving based on the real experiences of young entrepreneurs.

She added that sharing personal success stories is one of the strongest ways to encourage others to take the first step into entrepreneurship.

The Self-Employment Program is implemented by the National Employment and Skills Agency. It forms part of active policies to promote employment and entrepreneurship among young people.

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