By Sebi Alla
The reason it was established as a city ended in 2004, when an old set of Chinese machinery produced the last Albanian Kalashnikov at the weapons factory in Çekin. Today, hope has been revived, with Gramsh keeping one eye on tourism and the other on the ‘tip of the rifle’, of weapons and ammunition expected to be produced by companies from allied countries, now part of the Western bloc… ‘There are at least 15 foreign companies that have expressed interest in operating in the Republic of Albania in the field of the defense industry, of which we are aware, as they have either approached the state-owned company ‘KAYO’ with an expression of interest, or the Ministry of Defense’, the Ministry of Defense and ‘KAYO’ (the State Company for the Production and Trade of Weapons, Ammunition, and Military Equipment) said in an official response to Faktoje.al. Alongside Gramsh, the former explosives plant in Mjekës, Cërrik, and the Ammunition Factory in Poliçan also hold close hopes that the arms industry will be reactivated.
Weapons ‘Made in Albania’…!
‘The time has come to turn on the lights of an Albanian defense industry. Albania will produce weapons, smart drones, ships, and military vehicles’, said Prime Minister Edi Rama in April of this year, during a meeting held in Rubik, another area that could be used for military weapons production lines.
‘I am hopeful that the first contracts, the initial co-founding agreements, will definitely be signed within next year (2025). As for the production itself, if the production line is invested in relatively quickly after the contract is signed, I can say that the time when production begins is not far off’, said Minister of Defense Pirro Vëngu in an interview for the show ‘Without Censorship’ on RTSH.
Readiness
But is our country ready for the development of this industry that requires high technology, serious investments, and specific security conditions? Despite the statements and the strong ambition of the head of government to develop the military industry, so far the hopes are that foreign weapons and ammunition manufacturing companies will view Albania as a place suitable for investment, especially in military zones that offer almost ready land in terms of space and security. Most of the Albanian military industry built before the 1990s prioritized security, with classified facilities of special importance located far from populated areas and under mostly favorable terrain security conditions.
In Gramsh, an Israeli company expressed interest in producing 155 mm caliber shells. However, as we have learned, they did not consider the area suitable and are exploring the possibility of establishing the shell production factory in another former military zone in Burrel.
From the USA to the Arabs…
Fifteen companies from different countries around the world have shown interest in setting up their production lines in Albania, but there is no specific deadline for signing contracts and starting operations, even though Minister Vëngu has stated that the first contracts will be signed within the year. ‘Companies that have expressed interest in operating in the Republic of Albania range from SMEs to global-level enterprises, with the latter accounting for over 50% of those interested. The countries of origin are the European Union, the United States of America, Israel, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates’, the Ministry of Defense told Faktoje.al. According to official sources from KAYO: ‘foreign companies operating in cooperation with Albanian commercial companies have not been counted, as we have not received direct expressions of interest’.
What does Albania offer?
One year ago, KAYO sh.a. was registered as a state-owned enterprise at the National Business Center. ‘KAYO sh.a operates in the defense and security industry, supplying products and services to the Armed Forces of Albania and international markets.
The company was established in 2024, inheriting the production capacities of the Mjekës Explosives Plant, the Gramsh Mechanical Plant, and the Poliçan Mechanical Combine’, according to the company’s official website. ‘In line with Law 87/2024, aside from providing facilities, the Republic of Albania offers tax incentives, and for companies that choose to enter into a Joint Venture with the state-owned company ‘KAYO,’ there is also support provided for auxiliary infrastructure and access to research and development funds’, the Ministry of Defense stated.
Ongoing Discussions
The Ministry of Defense has officially confirmed to Faktoje.al that negotiations are underway with several companies regarding the production of both land and sea-based weapons and ammunition. ‘At present, we are engaged in negotiations with various companies for the production of weapons, ammunition, weapon systems, and combat vehicles for land and naval use. However, these negotiations are protected by confidentiality clauses. The information will be made public once the joint companies are registered with the National Business Center (QKB)’, the Ministry said. They added, ‘The timeline for each contract remains confidential as well’, ‘but we can state that within a medium-term timeframe, we expect to have technological production lines established and weapons and systems manufactured within the Republic of Albania’.
Çekin 1965…!
In 1965, in the area of Çekin, located just three kilometers from the town of Gramsh, the Mechanical Weapons Plant was established. Chinese and Albanian experts worked together to set up the production line, while skilled workers were recruited from the surrounding regions, including Cërrik. Among the thousands who played a role in producing hundreds of thousands of ‘Made in Albania’ weapons was Shefqet Kumria, now retired, whom Faktoje.al interviewed not far from the former plant.
‘At first, we produced ten-round rifles, then twenty-round rifles, Kalashnikovs, sporting rifles, and hunting rifles’, Kumria remembers.
He started working at the factory as a young man and ended his career there, in a plant that manufactured everything from sport rifles to Kalashnikovs. Shefqet recalls the time when this factory, one of the most important in the country, was producing up to 1,200 Kalashnikovs per month. ‘I began working at the plant on October 16, 1971, as a milling machine operator, after completing six months of practical training’, he says. He is one of the people who saw the factory during its golden era and remained until its decline. ‘At first, we produced ten-round rifles, then twenty-round rifles, Kalashnikovs, sporting rifles, and hunting rifles’, Kumria remembers.
The Factory
The plant reached its production peak in the 1980s, with serial manufacturing of Kalashnikov automatic rifles. ‘We managed to produce as many as 1,200 Kalashnikovs a month’, he states, adding that safety, employee management, department division, and the entire production process were strictly monitored by specialist teams. ‘The factory followed a closed-cycle process, covering everything from manufacturing and assembly to the calibration of weapons’, Kumria explains. He adds that even though many knew what went on inside the plant, no one spoke about it. At the height of production, around 1,300 workers operated in three shifts.
Çekin-Gramsh 2025…!
A narrow paved road, without clear signs, winds through several curves, and ahead, nestled within a thick pine forest, stands the main entrance to the former Weapons Production Factory in Çekin, Gramsh.
At first sight, there is a clear ‘visual investment’ with a new gate, a checkpoint featuring a renovated building, and a small painted structure further inside the premises. ‘No entry allowed’, states a soldier armed with a Kalashnikov, likely manufactured in that very factory.
Espionage Accusations
Security measures have been heightened compared to before 2022, specifically on August 20. Two Russian nationals, M.Z., 24, and S.T., 33, along with a Ukrainian national, F.T., 25, were arrested on August 20, 2022, on suspicion of espionage after one of them entered the military factory in Gramsh, took several photographs, and when ordered to stop by two military security guards, responded with a paralytic spray. All three were arrested and faced trial, but the espionage charges were never substantiated.
Measures
Since this serious incident, security at the former Weapons Production Plant in Çekin has been increased. It is reported that the facility now serves for the destruction of weapons seized by police from criminal groups or individuals. After the weapons go through a final court ruling, they are destroyed following a regulated process, with official documentation maintained by several institutions.
Gramsh
Once overlooked, this area has now turned into a hope for Gramsh, a town long deserted by its youth. The town has a quiet atmosphere, is relatively clean, and hosts a few small businesses striving to make ends meet, particularly through tourism.
‘Last year, around 120,000 foreign tourists visited Gramsh’, said Tajar Bici, the Deputy Mayor of Gramsh Municipality, in a statement for Faktoje.al. He explained that the local economy is mainly supported by agriculture, livestock, fruit farming, and small businesses, particularly in the service sector. ‘The Banja hydropower plant, good road infrastructure, and the combination of natural landscapes with cultural sites and nature parks have contributed to the area’s positive image’, Bici noted.
Depopulation
Before the 1990s, this town had as many as 56,000 residents, most of whom worked at the weapons plant in Çekin and ‘Plant 85’, which produced batteries for military equipment. According to the latest census held in 2023, Gramsh’s population has dropped to just 16,500.
‘The reactivation of the military industry would bring development to the area, with a direct impact on employment, tourism, and an increase in service-related businesses’, said Deputy Mayor Bici.
Gramsh, Poliçan, and Mjekës, classified as ‘strategic military zones’, are seeking foreign weapons manufacturing companies, with the goal of strengthening both security and the local economy.
