The 2026 edition of MacFrut in Rimini concluded with a successful turnout and high levels of participation. The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation was a protagonist with a large stand animated by beneficiaries from 10 foreign offices, product tastings, and a rich program of side events.
The Tirana Office focused its participation on leveraging its partnership with the Albanian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD); for the first time, MARD acted as co-organizer of the stand, supporting the office in promoting the excellence of the Albanian fruit and vegetable sector.
The Albanian delegation consisted of five producers, selected to represent some of the main value chains in the fruit and vegetable sector, including olive oil, processed fruit products, dried tomatoes, purees, and pickled vegetables.
For years, AICS Tirana has supported Albania on its path to European integration, through technical assistance for regulatory compliance with European Union standards and operational initiatives in the area aimed at supporting rural communities, improving the incomes of small and medium-sized producers, and promoting sustainable, high-quality agriculture in line with European standards.
Currently, the Italian program supporting MARD includes nine grant projects with a total value of over €18 million and four soft loans totaling approximately €35 million.
Two tasting events, hosted in a dedicated area within the AICS stand, and two talking events completed AICS Tirana participation at MacFrut 2026. Regarding tastings, an olive oil panel was organized with representatives from the University of Bologna, while the Albanian company Beltà offered tastings and explanations to visitors about its fruit juices, their composition, and marketing.
The first seminar, organized by AICS Tirana, thanks to the support of Borsa Merci Telematica – UnionCamere, presented the activities and results of the new initiative, currently underway, entitled “Technical and training support for the development and transparency of the Albanian olive oil supply chain.” The second workshop focused on a second, recently launched project, aimed at—as the title itself suggests—”Strengthening Irrigation Consortia for Sustainable Agricultural Development in Albania,” in partnership with CER – Canale Emiliano Romagnolo and ANBI – National Association of Land Reclamation, Irrigation, and Land Improvement.
Two opportunities for dialogue and discussion in which MARD actively participated, given its role as partner in both initiatives.
