In the first half of the year, Albania recorded a record amount of foreign investments or 749 million euros, which is 55 million more compared to the same period last year and 113 million euros more compared to 2022, the Central Bank of Albania announced.

According to the same source, in the second quarter alone, foreign direct investments were estimated at 395 million euros, with a growth of about four percent annually. The Netherlands, Italy and Turkey invested the most.

In the second quarter of 2024, foreign exchange inflows in the form of foreign direct investment were mainly concentrated in real estate to the extent of 25 percent, the financial intermediation sector, oil and transportation. The interest in real estate is directly related to the interest of foreigners to buy property and houses, especially on the coast, the Bank states.

The Central Bank of Albania assesses that the growth of foreign investments is the main factor for strengthening the domestic currency, because it directly affects the increase in the circulation of the European currency in the Albanian economy.

This year, the value of the euro experienced a record decline, and now it is exchanged for 99 lek.