Canada-Albania relations
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Bilateral relations
Canada and Albania have enjoyed positive diplomatic ties since 1987. The Canada-Albania relationship centres on Canadian commercial investment in Albania and a partnership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Canada appreciates Albania’s role in contributing to political stability in Southeast Europe and supports Albania’s EU accession aspirations.
Through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, Canada supports projects in Albania to promote Canadian priorities relating to the rule of law, good governance, diversity, disabilities and women’s economic empowerment.
Canada’s Embassy to Italy is accredited to Albania, while an honorary consulate in Tirana assists with Canadian interests in Albania. Immigration and visa applications by Albanians are processed by the office of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada at the Canadian embassy in Rome. Albania is represented in Canada by its embassy in Ottawa.
According to the 2021 Canadian census, there were 41,625 people living in Canada of Albanian ancestry, although some Albanian websites estimate that there are over 100,000 ethnic Albanians living in Canada.
Trade relations
In 2023, Canada’s merchandise exports totaled $82 million, a 62% increase from 2022, while imports totaled $21.5 million, relatively unchanged from 2022. Among non-EU Balkan countries, Albania is Canada’s second largest commercial partner and top export destination. The top exports to Albania in 2023 were vehicles other than railway and tramway (74%), meats (8%), lasers & optical equipment (5.4%), machinery and boilers (4.8%), and fish and crustaceans (4.5%).
Canada’s top imports from Albania were iron and steel (19.8%), aluminum (16.1%), articles of apparel, knit or crocheted (14.6%), and footwear, gaiters and the like (13.3%). According to Statistics Canada, Canadian investments in Albania in 2022 stood at $935M. These investments are primarily in the oil & gas and mining sectors.
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Defence relations and cooperation
Canada maintains positive defence relations with Albania. As of April 2021, Albania began contributing to NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence, deploying 21 personnel to the Canada-led Battle Group in Latvia. Canada has provided assistance to Albania through an anti-personnel mine destruction program, and has contributed expertise and training to help the Albanian military destroy roughly 10,000 tonnes of small arms and light-weapons ammunition.
Partnerships and organizations
To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and Albania work closely in multilateral fora, such as:
- La Francophonie
- International Criminal Court (ICC)
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
- Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
- United Nations (UN)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- World Trade Organization (WTO)
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