Hotel Alexander Palace, the first five-star hotel and one of the most significant and prestigious hotels in the country, known as a center for congresses and business events, with a strategic location, has for decades remained a place where businesses and business partnerships are created, and where ideas for new economic and social initiatives are launched. But Alexandar Palace is not only about business — it is also a place for enjoyment, recreation, and entertainment. Together, all these elements create a pleasant atmosphere that combines work and relaxation.

It is therefore no coincidence that meetings between the creators of this hospitality facility — Shterjo Nakov, then General Director of Fersped, the investor of the hotel, and Branko Azeski, the hotel’s first General Director — are gatherings filled with memories of a time when the reputation and prestige of this establishment were being built.

And it is precisely here, in the part of the hotel complex that offers a somewhat more spacious environment for leisure, where the tennis courts and accompanying facilities provide the perfect setting for informal, yet still business-oriented conversations.

One such meeting was held with Shefki Idrizi from Renova, one of the eight individuals who in 2004 were part of the Fundamental Chamber Transformation Board, and later, from 2005 to 2010, Vice President of the Economic Chamber.

These informal meetings took place at the same time that, inside the hotel’s conference halls, a business forum was being held at the initiative of the President of the Economic Chamber, Branko Azeski, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the RNM, H.E. Denion Meidani. The forum attracted impressive interest from numerous businesspeople, as well as institutional support from both countries, further confirming the strong interest in intensifying bilateral cooperation.

In his address at the Forum, President Azeski emphasized the importance of exports, infrastructure, and investments, as well as the Port of Durrës, which should serve as a serious alternative for new infrastructure connections and for Macedonian business. He also called for unity, urging participants “to unite, legalize trade flows, and achieve more than USD 1 billion in trade,” because, as Azeski pointed out, the existing trade cooperation of USD 207 million should be “a source of shame for businesspeople.”

“The essence of business lies in the constant search for new challenges,” said President Azeski, reminding participants that even a century ago there was more far-sighted thinking regarding infrastructure connectivity and the creation of corridors. He also stressed that the Chamber stands behind the business sector and that the trust of companies is of essential importance, emphasizing that “greater profits for companies lead to a better standard of living for citizens and progress for states.”

Within the framework of the business forum titled “Beyond Borders,” three panel sessions were held on investments, infrastructure connectivity, and tourism as areas with significant potential for deepening bilateral cooperation.

Among the many business meetings that took place yesterday in the relaxed yet business-oriented atmosphere of the hotel’s tennis court area at Alexandar Palace was the meeting between President Branko Azeski and Elira Kokona, head of the state Albanian Investment Corporation, which coordinates all investments by foreign companies in Albania, as well as investments by Albanian companies abroad.