TIRANA, July 6 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said the government has doubled funding for startup support to six million euros in 2026, driven by a sharp rise in applications under the “Startup Albania” programme.

He said the initiative reflects a strong shift in youth entrepreneurship. Meanwhile, he noted that demand has grown far beyond initial expectations.

Rama said the programme began with fewer than 100 applications in its early phase. However, he added that the number has now climbed to more than 1,200 applications this year.

As a result, he said the government increased the budget from three million euros to six million euros to meet rising demand.

In addition, Rama said the government will continue to expand support if the trend continues. He stressed that funding levels will move in line with application growth.

/a.p./