On April 28, 2025, the first AI Business Summit took place in Tirana – a milestone for the economic and technological development of the region.

The event was organized by the Hellenic Business Association of Albania (HBAA) in cooperation with Accenture Greece. According to the Albanian Daily News and official posts on LinkedIn, the event brought together leading figures from business, science, and politics from Albania, Greece, and other Balkan countries to discuss the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) for companies.

“AI is today – not tomorrow”

In his opening speech, HBAA President Denald George Tafani emphasized that artificial intelligence is no longer a vision of the future, but a key success factor of the present: “The question is no longer whether we use AI in business, but how, when, and in what form” (source: Albanian Daily News).

The conference highlighted the challenges facing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Albania, which account for around 90% of all companies in the country. As several speakers pointed out, many SMEs lack the knowledge, financial resources, and digital infrastructure to implement AI effectively. According to the Albanian Daily News, the AI Summit offered concrete tools, best practice examples, and guidelines for increasing efficiency, reducing costs, and strengthening competitiveness.

Accenture: “AI will redefine industry”

Kyriakos Sambatakakis, Country Managing Director of Accenture Greece, described AI in his keynote speech as an “unstoppable force for reinventing industry.” According to Sambatakakis, we are now entering a phase “in which everyone is striving for real added value through this technology” (Albanian Daily News).

The significance of this development was also emphasized by Albanian government representatives. According to the Albanian Daily News, Delina Ibrahimaj, Minister of Entrepreneurship and Business Climate, stressed the central role of innovation and digital solutions for the country’s economic growth. Igli Tafa, Director of the National Cyber Security Agency, also warned of the risks and called for robust security structures as the foundation for digital transformation.

Cooperation between Albania and Greece

Another highlight was the appearance of Athanasios Astrakas, Deputy Greek Ambassador to Albania, and Sokol Duma, Deputy Minister for Innovation. Both underscored the importance of cross-border cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence. According to Albanian Daily News, the summit is considered a positive example of productive cooperation between public institutions, private companies, and international partners.

The HBAA announced that it would translate the results of the summit into concrete strategies. The aim is to strengthen the AI ecosystem in Albania and the entire Balkan region in a sustainable manner – economically, technologically, and culturally.

Conclusion

The AI Business Summit in Tirana showed that Albania and Greece are working together on the digital future. Artificial intelligence is not only seen as a technological opportunity, but also as a driver of competitiveness, innovation, and a connecting element between business and politics.