Production relocation, currency fluctuation and EU membership negotiations starting next June. The future of Albania, a third country in the footwear sector, is all here. “I believe that the strong fluctuations of the Lek, the Albanian currency, are the result of financial speculation, even inside Albania. It is clear that a loss of value of the Lek increases the import of raw materials and consequently also the cost of production, making Albanian companies less competitive. Perhaps those who speculate are not aware of this” said Skënder “Keno” Pashaj, sales manager of Fital, a company worth about 18 million euros, with 1,050 employees and headquarters in Tirana, which produces about 8,000 pairs of shoes a day, for both their own brands (with Italian leather) and third parties. Regarding the possible entry of Albania into Europe, Pashaj believes that Tirana should not rush the stages: “If you have an economy that is too weak, what are you going to do after you enter Europe? Agreements should first be signed to make the country grow at an infrastructural level. Will Europe be penalising for the local footwear industry? I would not say so. I think it is correct to set standards for all countries. The problem is that the footwear market is saturated, invaded by poor quality products”.
