Tirana – On the 28th of October 2025, Ambassador of Japan to Albania, H.E. Ms. KATO Kikuko, and the Executive Director of the Western Balkans Fund (WBF), Mr. Gjergj Murra, signed a cooperation agreement for the project titled “#LeadBalkans – Regional leaders of diaspora”, an innovative initiative aimed at empowering young leaders from the Western Balkans region and its diaspora through organizing a high level conference in coming months.
Japan will contribute €51,000 to support the WBF in organizing this high-level conference focused on fostering regional leadership, encouraging knowledge exchange, and enhancing cooperation among youth, diaspora leaders, and key stakeholders in the Western Balkans. The project aims to strengthen leadership skills, promote dialogue, and build strong people-to-people connections that will advance sustainable growth in the region and tackle regional challenges effectively.
The #LeadBalkans initiative is a part of Japan’s continued support for the Western Balkans Cooperation Initiative, which was launched by former Prime Minister ABE Shinzo in 2018. This initiative is designed to support socio-economic reforms in the Western Balkan countries toward EU accession, as well as to facilitate cooperation in the region. Japan has previously provided financial support to the WBF for projects focusing on issues such as local governance, disinformation, promoting civil society engagement, and countering challenges to regional cooperation.
In the meeting prior to the signing ceremony, Ambassador Kato and Mr. Murra discussed the importance of youth leadership in shaping the future of the region. They emphasized the role of diaspora communities and the need for young leaders to act as catalysts for positive change, tackling issues like migration, brain drain, and the region’s integration into the European Union.
Ambassador Kato reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting the youth of the Western Balkans and exploring new opportunities for collaboration with local authorities and civil society organizations. She noted that the #LeadBalkans initiative represents an important step toward developing a new generation of ethical, inclusive leaders who can navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing world in an adequate manner.
