Tahseen Sayed meets PM Rama to enhance bilateral trade, tourism

Tahseen Sayed, Honorary Consul of Albania in Islamabad, has returned to Pakistan following a successful visit to Albania aimed at enhancing trade and tourism and strengthening bilateral relations.

In a media interaction on Saturday, Sayed, who previously served as the senior-most Pakistani at the World Bank as Regional Director, highlighted her role as an international expert on Albania’s National Economic Council, chaired by Prime Minister Edi Rama.

During her visit, she engaged with Albania’s top leadership, including Prime Minister Rama and ministers of Foreign Affairs, Tourism, Defense, Entrepreneurship, European Integration, Finance, Economy, and Planning, as well as the Mayor of Tirana.

Sayed stated that her discussions primarily focused on the private sector, involving Chambers of Commerce, the banking sector, and tourism operators.

“Albania’s leadership expressed their country’s desire to strengthen engagement with Pakistan, particularly in the areas of the labor market, tourism, and trade,” she stated.

Sayed also welcomed Pakistan's recent decision to grant visa-on-arrival access to Albanian tourists, which she believes will further facilitate trade and tourism between the two countries.

Albania, situated in southeastern Europe on the Adriatic and Ionian seas, shares land borders with Greece, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, and North Macedonia.

It is strategically positioned to connect to European markets, particularly in southeastern Europe.

The country has witnessed a significant surge in tourism, with visitor numbers doubling compared to pre-COVID times. Historically, Albania was part of the Ottoman Empire.