The aim of this paper is to examine financial intermediaries in Albania, paying special attention to the Albanian banking system. Our questionnaire research (226 out of 350 questionnaires collected) concluded that bureaucratic procedures are a real impediment to credit activities in Albania while the lack of financial resources also seems to be a decisive obstacle to business start-ups or expansion of their activities. A planned strategy of training programs to improve management skills must be realistically implemented. The training programs should emphasize upgrading of management/entrepreneurial skills and the collaboration of domestic enterprises with foreign ones. Technical assistance with a clear and straightforward strategy should be initiated to help the enterprises become more competitive. Moreover, strategies and government intentions to reduce bureaucracy and corruption must also be considered. Finally, new credit lines for short-term loans for working capital or for long-term loans for new investment projects must be introduced.
