Ida Ismail
A draft law, which has been languishing in Parliament's files since 2024 and aims to "reform" business representation in Albania, is producing a rare effect: An almost unanimous opposition from the very actors it is supposed to represent.
At the center of the debate is the creation of the National Chamber of Commerce (DHEK), a new institution, conceived as a public legal entity, with mandatory membership for all businesses and with powers that extend beyond traditional representation.
The draft aims to unite around 180 associations into a single Chamber, fundamentally changing the way business is organized and represented in Albania. This transformation is not simply organizational, but affects the very nature of the relationship between the state and entrepreneurship.
At the National Economic Council meeting in 2024, Prime Minister Edi Rama argued that this reform is necessary to create a unified business voice, especially in the context of European integration and the increase in foreign investments up to 3-4 billion euros: "Without a doubt, we have the opportunity to have another positive assessment from Standard & Poor's."
Business reaction: From skepticism to outright rejection
In stark contrast to the government’s arguments, the business response has been direct and critical. A group of 19 business associations and chambers of commerce have opposed the draft, considering it an unnecessary intervention that infringes on freedom of organization and the autonomy of entrepreneurship. One of the main concerns is the lack of clarity on the concrete benefits that businesses will receive in exchange for the fees, which range from 1 lek per year for small businesses and up to 70 lek per year for others.
Another criticism is that many of the Services that the Chamber of Commerce is expected to provide are already covered by existing institutions such as the National Business Center (NBC) and the e-Albania platform, which provide free registration, information and assistance Services. This raises questions about the real need for a new institution that could create overlapping functions and additional bureaucracy.
The American Chamber of Commerce, in its comments filed on the public consultation website, has underlined that mandatory membership for commercial entities conflicts with the principle of freedom and the registration fee itself can be considered a financial burden for the business.
In some continental European countries, such as Germany or Austria, there are models of chambers with mandatory membership, which play a role in economic coordination and the development of professional skills. However, these models are built on consolidated institutional traditions and a clear balance between business autonomy and public functions.
For the head of the British Chamber, Zenel Hoxha, this initiative is an institutional regression and will not have any effect on attracting the diaspora: "The draft for the reorganization of a new national economic chamber is a step backwards in relation to what we started 31 years ago with the progress that these institutions had throughout the country."
But the biggest difference is not in the formal status, but in the real function. DHEK is not limited to representing business interests. It takes on a series of functions that traditionally belong to public administration: From collecting and processing economic data, to influencing policy-making processes, to the role in resolving disputes through arbitration mechanisms.
This draft has also been opposed by businesses who consider it a monopolization to not delegate the problems to the country. Theodhor Kristuli from the Agro-Food Trade Union sees the initiative as a return to models of the past: "It's something we haven't asked for, why is the government worried? There are many and will they summarize them in one? How can they centralize everything, we were there 40 years ago, will we go back there?"
The Association of Foreign Investors in Albania has raised concerns that a mandatory structure could harm the investment climate and create uncertainty for foreign investors, who operate in an environment that requires stability and predictability.
A new role in business life
Some recent developments on the future of the National Chamber of Commerce could have even more serious effects on Albanian business. Following the draft law on the establishment of the National Chamber of Commerce, the proposed amendments to Law No. 9723 “On Business Registration” significantly deepen the role of the National Chamber of Commerce, moving it from a representative structure to a central node of economic administration.
At the core of these changes lies control over the Nomenclature of Economic Activities (NACE), which becomes the main legal reference.
DHEK gains the competence to identify, verify, certify and update this code for all entities, regardless of membership, making this a mandatory and continuous process. This intervention gives DHEK a direct role in the business life cycle: From initial registration, to changes in activity and to periodic annual verification.
Failure to comply with these obligations does not remain formal, but is accompanied by concrete consequences, such as fines and suspension of activity in the commercial register, which places the institution in a position with real influence over the functioning of businesses.
In this way, through a technical registration law, the DHEK gains powers that go beyond representation: A de facto regulatory role, with control over economic classification, access to data, and direct influence on market operations. In combination with its other functions, this transforms the DHEK into an actor with universal jurisdiction over the private sector, an institution that not only speaks on behalf of business, but also determines, verifies, and conditions the way it operates.
The concern of business is more concrete. Membership fees, service fees and a series of new administrative obligations, although no payment is foreseen for the first year, are a point of lack of consensus. In a system where a functional infrastructure for registering and administering businesses already exists through the Central Business Register and digital platforms, a fundamental question arises: what added value does this intervention bring?
Instead of reducing administrative interactions, the reform appears to add a new link, increasing costs and complexity for business, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Ultimately, the question that remains is not simply whether the National Chamber of Commerce should be created, but what economic model does Albania aim to build? A model where business representation is free and based on elections, or a centralized model, where representation and economic functions are institutionalized through a mandatory structure?acqj.al
