Albania’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Andis Salla, visited Çela Herbal in Bradashesh, near Elbasan, to discuss financial support for business expansion. The family-owned company, run by Aleksandër Çela, has traded medicinal plants for more than 30 years. It works with around 400 farmers nationwide and exports about 400 tonnes of products annually, mainly to European markets. Its range includes more than 100 medicinal and aromatic plant varieties, with Germany, Poland, Italy, France and Greece among its export destinations.

Salla discussed how the Soft Loan with Sovereign Guarantee scheme could help the company invest in machinery and expand its operations. The scheme allows businesses to access state-backed loans of up to 2 million euros, at interest rates of 2% to 3%. He also stressed that public institutions could guide businesses through the application process. Another key topic was the 10% compensation available to farmers for sales invoices issued when supplying the company. According to tax data cited by Salla, payments under the scheme exceeded 14 million euros in the first six months of the year.

Çela welcomed the support, saying the compensation encouraged partner farmers to increase production and maintain supplies. Salla reaffirmed the government’s commitment to helping businesses process and export Albanian products, while creating further economic opportunities for farmers.

/a.p./