The Ministry of Finances () is a department of the Albanian Government, responsible for designing and implementing fiscal policies, preparing and administering the state budget, managing public finances, and supervising the tax and customs system in Albania. The current Minister is Petrit Malaj, who has held this position since 2024 and was reconfirmed after the government reorganization in 2025.

History Early period

It is one of the first departments created immediately after the independence of the Albania as part of the Provisional Government of Ismail Qemali formed on 5 December 1912. The first minister of Finance was appointed Abdi Toptani, where under his leadership were established the first financial institutions of the country, such as the establishment of the Bank of Albania on 4 October 1913, although this lasted for a few months. During the first government, the first fiscal laws were approved for customs tariffs, import and export taxes, etc.

With the start of the Second Balkan War and the separatist rebellions of Essad Pasha Toptani, the Great Powers offered the crown of Albania to Prince Wilhelm of Wied, which he accepted on 7 March 1914. In the governments formed by him, Gaqo Adhamidhi, and later Filip Noga were appointed Minister of Finance. Nothing significant in terms of finances happened, given the situation with the control in the territory and the rebellions of different areas during this period.

Only after the Congress of Lushnjë held from 28 to 31 January 1920 and after the mandate of the Delvina Government or as it is otherwise known National Government, the Ministry of Finances headquarters moved to Tirana. Ndoc Çoba was appointed Minister of Finances. During the following years, the so-called Financial Directorates were established in Shkodër, Durrës, Elbasan, Gjirokastër, Korçë, and Vlorë, as well as financial offices in other cities. Laws banning the export of gold, silver, and cereals also came into force. The Customs Directorate was also established and the collection of customs tariffs on goods began. Then the law on the minting of the first Albanian banknote. The merits for the financial reforms of these years have Ndoc Çoba, Ahmet Dakli, Kol Thaçi, as well as the first General Director of the Albanian Customs, Ahmet Boriçi.

Zog Presidency and the Second Albanian Kingdom With the overthrow of Noli's government, Ahmet Zogu returned to power for the second time. On 25 January 1925, the Constitutional Assembly proclaimed the Republic of Albania, until then de jure continued to be the kingdom proclaimed in 1914 by the Great Powers. On 1 February 1925, Ahmet Zogu was elected President of Albania, being at the same time the head of the executive power. During this time, he restored stability in the country, as well as enabled the signing of important economic, political, and military agreements that strengthened the position of Albania.

At the beginning of 1925, a series of developments started for the Albanian economy, both positive and negative. Initiatives began to organize joint-stock companies in the field of industry, construction, transport. In the same year, the first Albanian currency, the Albanian Franga, was created. The introduction of foreign capital became the official policy of Zog's governments, which internally aimed to strengthen his power. He also used the granting of foreign capital concessions as a means of securing income for the regime, in the form of loans and rents, which was later thought of as a way out of the economic crisis.

Between 1925 and 1927 it is considered that 14 new companies were created, while in 1928, the number of enterprises reached 127. The domestic capital was 6 times larger than in 1927, making in this period partial stability of the economy was achieved.

The main feature of this period is the conclusion of agreements between the government of Tirana and Italian financial groups to invest in the country. Thus, in 1925 between the Albanian government of that time and the Italian financial group was signed the loan agreement of S.V.E.A where 96.4% of it was used by the Ministry of Public Works for road construction. This was done not only for the economic needs of the country but to create conditions for the penetration of foreign capital.

Trade was the main field of the Albanian economy. During this period the turnover of goods increased. Agricultural and livestock raw materials were mainly exported.

Many Italian, English, French and American companies began to be present in the Albanian economy through concession agreements or direct investments. Such as: SISMA (Societa Italiana Sfrutamento Miniere Albania); SEIA (Societa Electrica Italo-Albanese); ALBA (Azienda Lavori Boschi Albania); EIAA (Ente Italiano Attivita Agraria); SESA, which received the electricity concession in 7 cities in Albania; Anglo-Persian Oil Company; the American company Standard Oil Co.; Franco-Albanian kerosene union; German company INAG for forest use etc.

During the period 1925-1926, 23% of the territory of Albania was included in the concessions granted to foreign capital by the governments of Zog presidency. This gave a further impetus to the country's economy, which experienced some modest but still evident development in the period 1925-1928.

After the early elections on 25 August 1928, a change of form of government was proposed, the Statutory Commission proposed a change of form of the regime from a republic to a monarchy. On 1 September 1928, the Constituent Assembly proclaimed: Ahmet Zogu "King of the Albanians" under the name Zog I. At this time, the Basic Statute, the Civil Code, and the Commercial Code were adopted.

In 1929, the whole world would be gripped by the Great Depression caused by overproduction. Albania would not escape its effects either. It was exactly this year when the first signs of this crisis were seen, mainly in the monetary and financial system of the country, but they became more sensitive in 1930 and reached their peak in 1934-1935.

To mitigate the effects of the crisis of the continuous budget deficit and financial difficulties that were evidenced in many areas and sectors, many loans and credits were taken from Western countries, mostly from Italy. The bank reduced the amount of currency in circulation and deepened deflation. It artificially increased the value of the franc and which resulted in products' lower prices.

In the middle of 1935, Albania entered a phase of revival. The industry recovered. Zog created some fiscal facilities especially for the cement factory, which was exempt from taxes for three years.

Reorganization Since the establishment of the institution, the Ministry of Finances has undergone several administrative changes to its organizational structure. When a new department was formed, it often merged with the ministry thus expanding its role, subsequently leading to the name of the ministry being changed. If that department later broke off as a separate ministry or was dissolved, the ministry reverted to its original name.

Ministry of Finances (1912–1939) Minister State Secretary of Finances (1939–1943) Ministry of Finances (1944–1992) Ministry of Finances and Economy (1992–1993) Ministry of Finances (1993–2017) Ministry of Finances and Economy (2017–2025) Ministry of Finances (2025 - present)

Subordinate institutions General Directorate of Taxation General Directorate of Customs General Directorate for the Prevention of Money Laundering First Society of Financial Development Gambling Oversight Unit National Business Center Agency for the Administration of Confiscated Assets Credit Handling Agency General Directorate of Industrial Property Administrator of Borrowing Corporations Training Center for the Administration of Taxation and Customs

Officeholders (1912–present) 1Abdi Toptani→ Aziz Vrioni4 December 1912October 19132Jorgji ÇakoOctober 191322 January 19143Gaqo Adhamidhi14 March 191420 May 19144Filip Noga28 May 19143 September 19145Nexhati Libohova5 October 191427 May 19156Haxhi Isuf Banka27 May 191527 January 1916*Fejzi Alizoti25 December 191829 January 19207Ndoc Çoba30 January 192014 November 19208Tef Curani15 November 192016 October 19219Ahmed Dakli→ Kol Thaçi16 October 192112 December 192110Sulejman Starova12 December 192124 December 192111Kol Thaçi24 December 192125 February 192412Luigj Gurakuqi3 March 192416 April 192413Mufid Libohova30 May 192410 June 1924–Luigj Gurakuqi16 June 192424 December 1924–Mufid Libohova6 January 192523 September 1925–Sulejman Starova28 September 192510 February 192714Fejzi Alizoti12 February 192720 October 1927–Sulejman Starova24 October 192710 May 192815Milto Tutulani11 May 19285 March 1930–Kol Thaçi6 March 193011 April 193116Lame Kareco20 April 19317 December 193217Abdurrahman Dibra11 January 193316 October 193518Rrok Gera21 October 19357 November 1936–Kol Thaçi9 November 19367 April 1939*Kosta Marku8 April12 April 1939–Fejzi Alizoti12 April 19395 April 194019Kemal Vrioni5 April 19403 December 194120Shuk Gurakuqi3 December 19414 January 194321Loro Musani18 January 194311 February 194322Kosta Marku12 February 194328 April 194323Andon Beça11 May 194310 September 194324Sokrat Dodbiba5 November 194316 June 1944*Ramadan Çitaku28 May 194423 October 1944–Rrok Gera18 July 194428 August 194425Et'hem Cara6 September 194425 October 194426Ramadan Çitaku23 October 19446 February 194827Kiço Ngjela6 February 194821 November 194828Abdyl Këllezi23 November 194831 July 195329Tuk Jakova1 August 195319 July 1954–Abdyl Këllezi20 July 19543 June 195630Aleks Verli4 June 195628 October 197431Lefter Goga28 October 197411 November 197632Haki Toska12 November 197618 December 198133Qirjako Mihali15 January 198216 February 198434Niko Gjyzari16 February 198419 February 198735Andrea Nako20 February 198722 December 199036Qemal Disha22 December 199010 May 199137Anastas Angjeli11 May 19914 June 199138Genc Ruli11 June 19916 December 199139Robert Çeku18 December 199113 April 1992–Genc Ruli13 April 199223 November 199340Piro Dishnica9 November 19433 December 199441Dylber Vrioni4 December 199410 July 199642Ridvan Bode11 July 19961 March 199743Arben Malaj11 March 199728 September 1998–Anastas Angjeli2 October 199829 January 200244Kastriot Islami22 February 200229 December 2003–Arben Malaj29 December 200310 September 2005–Ridvan Bode11 September 200515 September 201345Shkëlqim Cani15 September 201317 February 201646Arben Ahmetaj26 February 201622 May 201747Helga Vukaj22 May 201713 September 2017–Arben Ahmetaj13 September 20175 January 201948Anila Denaj17 January 201918 September 202149Delina Ibrahimaj18 September 2021 9 September 202350Ervin Mete9 September 202330 July 202451Petrit Malaj30 July 2024Incumbent

Notes

See also Taxation in Albania List of banks in Albania

Sources

References