The visit of Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar to Tirana was accompanied by declarations of the historic friendship between the two countries, extraordinary praise for Edi Rama and promises to expand cooperation. But beyond the diplomatic language, Israeli media report on another dimension of the agreement signed between the two governments: the possibility for Israeli companies to enter into contracts directly with the Albanian government in a number of strategic sectors.
Israeli television Channel 14 announced the visit with the headline: “Strategic Alliance: Gideon Sa'ar to Sign Major Deal in Albania.” In the article, the Israeli media explained that the intergovernmental agreement, known as G2G (Government to Government), would create new opportunities for Israeli businesses.
"The new agreement will enable the Albanian government to enter into contracts directly with leading Israeli companies in various fields," writes Channel 14, citing cybersecurity, innovation, water technologies, energy, healthcare and advanced agriculture.
According to Israeli television, this move is expected to significantly strengthen economic ties and create numerous opportunities for Israeli companies in key sectors of the Albanian economy.
The same information was confirmed on October 11 by the Israeli news agency Tazpit Press Service (TPS) , which reported that the agreement would allow the Albanian government to directly contract with Israeli companies, opening up trade opportunities in the technology, energy, water management, health and agriculture sectors.
According to the Israeli side's interpretation, it creates concrete opportunities for the involvement of private companies in projects that can be financed by the Albanian government.
In the joint statement in Tirana, Albanian Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha confirmed the signing of the General Cooperation Agreement, but focused mainly on mutual benefits and strengthening bilateral relations without mentioning concrete projects.
"It creates a structured mechanism through which our countries will expand cooperation in several areas of mutual interest, including economy and trade, innovation and technology, agriculture, water management, energy, health, education, security, tourism and culture," Hoxha declared.
Essentially, both sides are talking about the same agreement, but with different emphases. The Albanian minister presented it as an instrument of cooperation between institutions, while the Israeli reports highlighted the trade opportunities created for their companies.
For his part, Gideon Sa'ar did not spare praise for the Albanian Prime Minister. In the joint statement, he called Albania a true friend of Israel and recalled the protection that Albanians gave to Jews during the Holocaust.
"During the Holocaust, Albanians opened their homes to Jews. This was your besa, your code of honor. Albania ended the war with more Jews than it had at the beginning. The only country on the continent to do so," the Israeli minister declared.
But the strongest praise was reserved for Edi Rama, whom Sa'ar ranked among the most important leaders in the world.
"I want to express my immense admiration for Prime Minister Edi Rama, one of the greatest leaders in the world today. His powerful words against Hamas terrorism had a great impact on Israelis," he said.
Sa'ar cited the growth of tourism as an example of rapprochement between the two countries. According to him, the number of Israeli visitors to Albania has increased from about 7,000 to 100,000 per year.
"There is a reason for this, Israelis feel safe in Albania," declared the Israeli minister, linking this development to the good relations between the two countries.
