Tirana, 18 February 2026 – The Minister of Environment and Physical Planning, Muamet Hoxha, today opened the Ministerial Forum on Corridor VIII, held in Tirana with the participation of delegations from host Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Italy, and Romania, as well as representatives from partner countries.
The Forum served as a high-level platform for deepening interstate cooperation and accelerating the development of Corridor VIII as a strategic artery for modern transport, economic development, and regional security, while also strengthening integration and connectivity with the main European corridor networks.
In his address, Minister Hoxha emphasized that Corridor VIII is much more than an infrastructure project – it represents a development vision that connects the Adriatic and the Black Sea and creates new bridges of cooperation between the economies and peoples of the region.
“Corridor VIII represents a transformative development axis with profound economic, geopolitical, and environmental significance,” Minister Hoxha emphasized.
He emphasized that the advancement of this corridor is a direct part of the European integration agenda, thereby increasing the country’s competitiveness and strengthening its connections with European transport and energy networks.
The Minister emphasized that infrastructure development must go hand in hand with environmental responsibility, respecting environmental protection and biodiversity standards.
The Forum brought together representatives of public institutions, European institutions, international financial institutions, and the business community, with the aim of advancing the dialogue on investment, facilitating trade, and increasing competitiveness along Corridor VIII, turning it into a new engine of development and prosperity for the region.