“Fit for the Future with AI”: Vodafone Albania organizes national forum on governance, innovation and AI-led transformation
2026-02-27 15:56:18
TiranaPost
Vodafone Albania successfully concluded the second edition of "Fit for the Future with AI", the most strategic national forum in the country, dedicated to the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in digital governance, economic productivity and long-term competitiveness of Albania.
After the success in 2025, this year too, “Fit for the Future” became the cornerstone of a concrete change that is taking place in our country. AI is now a national priority and all policymakers, global partners are on the same page, on the need to adapt this tool with responsibility and strategy.
Digital Infrastructure is seen as a strategic asset. Vodafone Albania, with 5G, fiber expansion, partnerships and increased attention to security, the No. 1 Network in Albania proved once again its commitment to increasing the development of Albania and AI.
The forum brought together government representatives, national and global technology leaders, business leaders, industry and media experts, academics, and civil society representatives for a high-level dialogue on Albania's readiness for an AI-led future.
In their opening remarks, Vodafone Albania executives emphasized that Artificial Intelligence is no longer a topic of the future, but a reality that is reshaping economic power, security, productivity, and even global diplomacy.
Underlining Vodafone's dedication, Vodafone Albania CEO, Balázs Révész, highlighted the essential role of infrastructure in the development of AI. “AI does not sit in the cloud. It operates through networks, is enabled by connectivity and energy, and ultimately relies on trust,” said Vodafone Albania CEO.
He further emphasized that telecommunications is now an important national infrastructure, as essential as energy and transport, and reaffirmed Vodafone's mission to act as the trusted helmsman of Albania's digital transformation.
One of the special guests at this forum was the robot, Tobi, as a concrete demonstration of how AI can be integrated into our daily experiences.
The first panel, "Governance of the Future, Trust, Policies & AI Readiness", moderated by the Director of Legal, Public Policy and External Affairs at Vodafone Albania, Jonida Lakuriqi, focused on building the institutional, regulatory and trust framework for the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence.
In her opening remarks, she emphasized that strong systems guarantee a secure future. "Preparing for the future is not about predicting it, but about building systems that survive it," Lakuriqi emphasized.
The discussion clearly articulated the importance of harmonization with European Union policies, inter-institutional coordination and treating digital infrastructure as a national strategic asset. The panel included government representatives such as the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Enkelejda Muçaj, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Megi Fino, the Deputy Minister of Economy, Culture and Innovation, Blerta Rama; international partners such as GIZ represented by Sebastian Berwanger Team Leader at EU4Innovation, as well as the analyst and Chairman of the Board of the Center for Quality Journalism in Albania, Lutfi Dervishi.
In the second panel "AI Ecosystem in Economy & Innovation" moderated by Vodafone's Business Director, Mafalda Alves Dias, the concrete impact of AI on the Albanian business ecosystem and the organizational readiness of Albanian institutions and companies was explored.
Opening the panel, she raised a crucial question: “The real question is not whether we are talking about AI, but whether we are building real productivity or just impressive presentations?”
Industry leaders such as the Executive Director of the 100% digital bank, Jet Bank, Fatbardha Rino, Director of the start-up "Plug and Play", Uranik Begu, General Director of 1UP, Enian Gazhga, journalist Blendi Salaj, shared concrete examples of AI-enabled innovation, highlighting growth, efficiency and the creation of new business models as well as highlighting gaps in data, skills, infrastructure and organizational culture that need to be addressed in the coming years.
Global speakers from Microsoft, Accenture, cybersecurity organizations, and robotics innovators delivered TED-style sessions, showcasing how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming industries. Demonstrations of Microsoft Azure, Copilot, AI in cybersecurity, and AI in robotics showcased the practical implementation of global-standard solutions in Albania.
The AI Innovation Expo area allowed attendees to experience five interactive booths covering: cloud, cybersecurity, robotics, hands-on Copilot demonstrations, and AI applications in the web and e-commerce.
This year, the forum concluded with a universal message, Artificial Intelligence is a strategic lever for the transformation of the economy, institutions, and society.
