On July 15th, 2025, Partners Albania held the “Green Business Competition 2025”.

Launched in 2012, the Green Business Competition is a long-standing initiative of Partners Albania that promotes business ideas fostering social inclusion through integration and employment—and encourages local economic development rooted in environmental sustainability. By supporting innovative, community-based green ventures, the competition contributes meaningfully to building a peaceful, competitive, and prosperous Western Balkans region, aligned with seven of the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.

Seventeen finalists, selected among competitors from the first phase of the competition, presented their business ideas to an independent jury panel composed of experts from various economic sectors and business development fields. The jury selected the following winners:

• 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲– by ALSA Olive Oil, presented by Alvin Gjata;

The idea consists in installing a photovoltaic system on the roof of the ALSA olive oil production factory, to enable the supply of the entire annual energy demand and to inject the excess energy into the electricity grid. At the centre of the idea is the empowerment of this green rural business model, guaranteeing clean, affordable and sustainable energy.

• 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞– from Capitol Studio, presented by Gerald Taho;

Aiming to use art and music to protect the environment, the idea aims to transform the Capitol music recording and audiovisual production studio into a green creative centre (green co-space), combining art, technology and environmental sustainability. The goal is to create an environment where artists, youth and the community find opportunities to create, record, exhibit and share content with cultural and social impact, using an environmentally friendly approach.

• 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭– by Artizanale HM, presented by Mikaela Lala;

The further development of the family artisan workshop “Artizanale HM Kukës”, through the traditional production of a new line of handmade bags, using local wool and cotton, dyed with natural dyes. This line will focus on contemporary designs with traditional motifs, such as the endemic tulip of Kukës – Tulipa Albanica – preserving the local identity and offering a sustainable, environmentally friendly product with artistic and functional value.

• 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥– Valorization of natural beauty, by Handmade Jorean, presented by Alketa Muharremi;

Cosmetics and personal hygiene products produced with local organic products with environmentally friendly packaging and already tested in the market for 3 years. The artisanal soaps are designed according to the specific consumer demand, and are produced using raw materials from local sources: olive oil, beeswax, goat milk, aromatic and medicinal plants, thus creating added value for the local economy.

• 𝐕𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐊𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠– by Reality Escapers Albania, presented by Ornold Bazaj.

“Vlora Kayaking” will be a specialized sector of Reality Escapers Albania, which aims to develop and promote the sport of kayaking in a professional and sustainable way. Through the creation of kayaking sport tourist guides on the Vjosa and Shushicë rivers, in the Narta lagoon and along the Vlora coastline, it will bring a new dimension of nature and adventure tourism to the region, aiming to create a sustainable platform for the development of kayaking in Vlora, which promotes outdoor sports, sustainable tourism and raises awareness for the protection of aquatic ecosystems.

The Green Business Competition 2025 was supported by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and Credins Bank. Through the fund, winners will be supported up to 1,000,000 ALL, for an implementation period of six to nine months.

Three of the winners from the national competition, will automatically become part of the regional “Balkan Green Ideas” Competition 2025, which this year will take place in September in Ohrid, North Macedonia.

Visit the photo gallery from the Green Business Competition 2025.