The European University of Tirana organized the forum on “30 Years of Free Economy: The Retail Sector”. Entrepreneurs, industry experts, representatives of business organizations, as well as academics addressed the challenges and innovations that have marked the history of this sector as well as the potential it presents for sustainable development in Albania. The forum was supported by BALFIN Group, as part of the activities organized in the framework of the 30th anniversary of its founding by Samir Mane.
The retail sector has undergone an inherent transformation throughout the 30 years of free economy in Albania. Present at this forum to share their experiences with dozens of lecturers and students, were the Vice President of Retail at BALFIN Group, Julian Mane, the Union of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Albania’s President, Ines Muçostepa and the Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Business and Development at the European University of Tirana, Elvin Meka.
Julian Mane: The Future of Retail is Hybrid
In his speech, Julian Mane emphasized that the future is the combination of physical and online sales, and that retail remains a very important sector for BALFIN Group.
“It all started with courage, and the journey is certainly not over. We as BALFIN believe that we should always be close to the customer. The combination of physical presence and online sales will be the key to success in the future. Last year, we introduced the concept of retail parks in Albania. West Park is a brand new concept that aims to adapt to the daily needs of customers and serve as a catalyst for the development of the entire city. In Korça, it turned out to be a very successful idea. These are mini-shopping malls, where customers can shop with the same standard as in larger ones. We want to extend this concept even further in the country and in the region.”
Further on, Ines Muçostepa, President of the Union of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Albania, spoke about the challenges faced by businesses in free trade. While Dean Elvin Meka emphasized the readiness of the banking system to support business.
In its 30-year-old journey, the BALFIN Group has been a pioneer in the creation of retail chains. It is committed to sharing this experience with the new generation of professionals in the academic ranks through the support of such organizations. Earlier, BALFIN Group also supported the forum organized by the Faculty of Economics at the University of Tirana on the topic “30 Years of Free Market in the Banking Sector“.