Op/Ed: Balkan awakening – Strengthening ties between Israel and Albania
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- The economic ties between Albania and Israel are also growing.
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By Ohad Shpak*
The upcoming Israel-Albania Tech Conference to be held in March 2023 aims to strengthen commercial ties between the two countries, following recent developments in the bilateral relations.
Muslim-majority Republic of Albania and the Jewish State of Israel have maintained diplomatic relations since 1991, shortly after Albania emerged from communist rule. However, the relationship between these two nations has evolved significantly in recent years, particularly in the field of cybersecurity.
In July 2022, Albania experienced a major cyberattack that was attributed to Iran. This incident prompted Israel to offer its expertise in cybersecurity to Albania, which was gratefully accepted by the Albanian government. Israel provided assistance in developing Albania's cybersecurity infrastructure, and in October 2022, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama visited Israel with his national security advisor to discuss cybersecurity matters
During his visit, Prime Minister Rama met with the Israeli Prime Minister and other Israeli officials to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries. They also discussed possible collaborations in fields such as agriculture, tourism, and defense.
In addition to cybersecurity, the two countries share a common interest in countering terrorism and extremism. Albania has been recognized as a leader in the fight against extremism in the Western Balkans, and Israel has extensive experience in counter-terrorism operations. This common interest has led to increased cooperation between the two countries in the field of security.
The cultural ties between Albania and Israel are also significant. Albania is home to a small Jewish community that has existed for centuries. During World War II, Albania was the only country in Europe to have more Jews at the end of the war than at the beginning, due to the country's efforts to protect Jews from the Nazis. This history has created a special bond between the two nations.
Earlier this month, Albanian PM Rama announced plans to open a museum in Albania's capital dedicated to citizens who saved Jews during the Second World War. According to Albanian officials, the holocaust museum will pave the way "for the creation of a destination of the glorious history of the salvation of Jews during the Second World War".
The economic ties between Albania and Israel are also growing. Israel is a leader in technology and innovation, while Albania has a young and highly educated workforce. The two countries have the potential to collaborate in various sectors, including renewable energy, agriculture, and tourism.
The volume of trade between the countries has also seen a rise in recent years as a Convention for the Prevention of Double Taxation was signed in 2021.
"Tirana's Tech Conference" that will take place this week, in partnership with the Albanian government and the Israeli embassy in Tirana, aims to strengthen the commercial ties between the two countries. The Conference is expected to attract many Israeli high-tech companies who are interested to learn and discover new opportunities in the Albanian tech ecosystem.
*Ohad Shpak is one of the speakers in Tirana's Tech Conference and is the founder of Ohad Shpak Law Office, specializing in providing legal counsel to joint ventures between Israeli companies and European and American partners in international markets.
