Roundtable discussion: “The garment and footwear manufacturing sector in Albania: challenges, problems, brand development and the future”

On December 15, 2023, the Gender Alliance for Development Center, in collaboration with ProEksport Albania, organized in the city of Berat an essential roundtable discussion on the topic: "The garment and footwear manufacturing sector in Albania: challenges, problems, brand development and the future". The purpose of this roundtable was to focus on discussions regarding the challenges and problems experienced by the garment and footwear manufacturing sector in this period in Albania, emphasizing their impact on brand development and discussing the actions needed to ensure a sustainable future.

Officials of the garment and footwear sector and representatives from various companies in the sector were invited at the roundtable to contribute to the discussion.

The participants in the roundtable expressed their concerns regarding the current situation in the sector, highlighting the big exchange rate fluctuations during 2023. In particular, the strengthening of the lek in relation to other currencies has resulted in big losses for exporting companies, causing them to experience considerable financial difficulties. Cost increases have also had an impact on band productions in the country.

Exporting and manufacturing companies are found to be producing at lower yields and offering a more limited range of products in the market. Consequently, there is a need for a lower number of employees and this often results in layoffs. Since the workforce in this sector is mainly female and from families with a weak economy, this phenomenon directly impacts this class of employees.

In this context, discussions were held on possible actions that will help in addressing the identified challenges and problems.