Albanian diaspora (Albanian: Mërgata Shqiptare or Diaspora Shqiptare) are the ethnic Albanians and their descendants living outside of their country of origin; in Switzerland about 250’000 persons, which makes Albanian the fifth most spoken language in the country. Rather than focusing on diaspora as an organised group, Risi works with individual entrepreneurs that have a diaspora background. These are persons who came back after a couple of years working abroad or others who grew up abroad and now returned to their home country and starting a business. Some are also persons still living abroad and doing business there but increasingly investing in own or existing companies in Albania.

What makes this cooperation so special? It is the world- view of these persons, knowing two countries, two types of people, economies and conditions from the inside. As entrepreneurs, they often act as multi- disciplined problem solvers at the same time they are employers who are particularly open to create quality- jobs or pay particular attention to quality aspects in non- formal training. Both caring for jobs that value the person, that are guaranteed and offer perspectives for personal and thus organisational development and growth.

Risi has in all three sectors one or several partners with a diaspora background and given the positive experiences, continues contributing to information and promotion in agri- business (AIDA/ IFC) or keeps establishing and scaling up bilateral arrangements in tourism (twinning) and ICT. Nonetheless, Risi is looking to increase the number of partnerships, be it in Albania, Switzerland or else in the world. It therefore invites any entrepreneur and/ or investor who knows the Albanian and a second culture, to contact us and to share an enriching experience of cross- country and cross culture exchange and to use it for the sake of developing a business in Albania. Sharing knowledge means enriching knowledge. It is one of the few resources that grows when we share it.

Stefan Joss, Risi project director, contributing to the (agri) tourism panel during the second diaspora summit in Expocity, Tirana,

March 01.2019