TIRANA, July 28  /ATA/ Albania’s economy maintained a steady growth trajectory in the first half of 2026, with fiscal and macroeconomic indicators pointing to continued positive momentum, Finance Minister Petrit Malaj said on Monday.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Customs director general Besmir Beja and Tax Administration head Ilir Binaj, Malaj presented the results of fiscal administration for the January-June period.

Malaj said that during this period, both revenues and budget expenditures increased compared with the same period a year earlier, while economic activity continued to be supported by higher employment and increased business activity.

“Albania’s economy expanded by 3.7% in the first quarter of 2026, outperforming the average growth rate of Western Balkan economies and the European Union,” Finance Minister Petrit Malaj said.

Malaj said the outlook for the rest of the year remained positive.

“Economic growth is expected to reach 4% by the end of 2026, driven mainly by the services sector and private and public investment,” Malaj said.

The minister stressed that the government aims for gross domestic product (GDP) to reach around €29 billion by the end of 2026, while the target for the current term is for the Albanian economy to achieve a GDP of €35 billion.

He said the indicators reflected the resilience of Albania’s economy and provided a basis for continuing policies aimed at supporting growth, investment and improving citizens’ living standards.

/sm/