Have you ever wondered how someone can go from being a refugee in a foreign country to becoming the richest person in their homeland? That’s exactly what happened with Samin Albania, known worldwide as Samir Mane — the man who changed the face of business in Albania and the Balkans. His story is not just about money. It’s about courage, smart choices, and a dream that began during one of the hardest times in Albania’s history.
From a Small Town to Big Dreams
Samin Albania was born on December 24, 1967, in Korçë, a small town in southern Albania. At that time, Albania was under strict communist rule, and people had very few freedoms. Traveling abroad or starting a private business was almost impossible. Life was tough, but Samir was curious, hardworking, and always thinking about how to build something better.
When he went to study geology at the University of Tirana, he didn’t imagine one day becoming a billionaire. In fact, back then, his only goal was to have a small house or maybe buy a car. He even started selling meatballs to other students to make some extra money — a small sign of his business spirit. But the authorities stopped him, and like many others at the time, he realized that success in communist Albania would be very limited.
Then came 1991, a year that changed his life forever. The communist system was collapsing, and Albania was in chaos. People were desperate to find new opportunities. Samir decided to take a big risk. He packed his things and left for Austria, searching for a better life. He didn’t know it then, but that journey would become the start of one of the most inspiring success stories in modern Albanian history.
Life as a Refugee in Austria
When Samin Albania arrived in Austria, life was far from easy. He didn’t speak the language, had no money, and had to live in a refugee camp for months. But instead of giving up, he started learning German by himself. He was determined to do something meaningful. He even joined the Technical University of Vienna to continue his geology studies.
While living in Vienna, Samir saw how different life was in Western Europe. People had freedom. Shops were full of goods. Businesses were growing everywhere. He started to see possibilities. Albania was still poor and struggling, but he realized one day people there would want the same kind of modern lifestyle.
In 1993, he took another brave step. He left university and started a small business called Alba-Trade. He bought televisions, radios, and video recorders in Austria and drove them all the way to Albania. He loaded the trucks himself, slept inside them to save money, and sold everything directly from the truck once he arrived in Tirana. The demand was huge. In just a few hours, everything sold out. That’s when he knew he was onto something big.
Building His First Businesses
Over time, Samin Albania learned more about how to run a business properly. He read books by great entrepreneurs like Jack Welch (former CEO of General Electric) and Sam Walton (founder of Walmart). He wanted to understand how big companies worked, how to grow, and how to treat customers better. These lessons helped him build his first big success — the Neptun electronics stores.
In 1996, he opened the first Neptun store in Tirana. It was the first of its kind — a clean, modern electronics store with organized shelves and friendly staff. People loved it. Soon, he expanded into North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Montenegro. Everywhere he went, people were ready for change. They wanted modern shops, good service, and reliable products. Neptun gave them that.
By the early 2000s, Samir had 19 stores and more than $50 million in revenue. It was an incredible achievement for someone who had started out as a refugee. But he wasn’t satisfied yet. He had a bigger dream — to build something that could completely transform Albania’s shopping experience.
Creating Albania’s First Shopping Mall
In 2005, Samin Albania returned home from Vienna with a new goal: to open Albania’s first-ever shopping mall. People thought he was crazy. At the time, Albania’s economy was still weak, and most people shopped in small neighborhood markets. Investors laughed at his idea. “Who would drive two hours to buy tomatoes?” they said.
But Samir believed Albania was ready for something new. He convinced the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to support his vision, and together they opened QTU (Qendra Tregtare Univers) — the first modern mall in Albania. On opening day, the parking lot was full, and thousands of people lined up to see it. Even Samir had to help direct traffic himself. It was a turning point. For the first time, Albanians could enjoy a full shopping experience like in any European city.
Encouraged by this success, he went even bigger. In 2011, he opened the Tirana East Gate (TEG) — a massive 1.2 million-square-foot shopping mall with international brands like H&M, Zara, Adidas, Swarovski, Burger King, and KFC. It became a symbol of Albania’s economic progress. “This is our flagship,” he said proudly. “It’s 100% leased.”
The Rise of Balfin Group
As his businesses grew, Samin Albania needed a way to manage them all. So he created BALFIN Group, which stands for Balkan Finance Investment Group. It became one of the biggest private companies in the region. Today, BALFIN operates in 10 countries including Albania, Austria, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and the Netherlands. It owns over 50 companies and employs more than 5,500 people.
BALFIN’s work covers almost everything — retail, real estate, banking, tourism, and logistics. About 62% of its revenue comes from retail, and another 20% comes from real estate projects. The rest comes from banking and other services. In 2024, the group made $880 million in sales and $120 million in net profit, showing strong growth across all sectors.
From electronics stores and shopping malls to luxury resorts and banks, Samir built an empire step by step. But what makes his story special is not just the money. It’s the mindset — the belief that Albania can compete with the rest of Europe.
A New Chapter: Real Estate and Luxury Projects
By the mid-2010s, Samin Albania started focusing on real estate. He bought land near Tirana in 2008 when prices were low and turned it into Rolling Hills, a beautiful luxury neighborhood filled with villas. He even built his own 33,000-square-foot home there. When land values went up more than ten times, he kept building — creating new projects like Collina Verde and another huge development near an artificial lake that will cost $240 million to complete by 2028.
And that’s just the beginning. Along Albania’s stunning coastline, he built the Green Coast Resort, a luxury project featuring villas, hotels, and apartments. International brands like Accor, Grand Melia, and Hyatt are now part of it. The project is worth around $900 million, and Samir has already earned nearly $150 million from property sales. It’s a sign of how much Albania’s tourism and real estate sectors are growing — and how much faith Samir has in his country’s future.
Expanding Beyond Albania
After the success of his malls and real estate projects, Samin Albania began looking outside his country’s borders. He knew that Albania’s market was small, so he started to grow across the Western Balkans and later across Europe.
His company, BALFIN Group, spread into places like Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Austria, and the Netherlands. Soon, it reached even further — into Canada and the United States. He bought office buildings and apartments in New York and New Jersey, showing that an Albanian businessman could play on the world stage too.
Samir also expanded in retail. His electronics chain Neptun became one of the most trusted brands in the Balkans. And he didn’t stop there. In 2025, he signed a deal with Flying Tiger Copenhagen, a popular Danish store chain, to open 50 new stores in the next few years. He also plans to bring Jumbo, a well-known Greek toy store brand, to Moldova.
His goal is simple — to keep growing while bringing modern, high-quality products to new markets. It’s another example of how Samin Albania continues to push boundaries and make bold moves.
Banking, Business, and Beyond
In 2019, Samin Albania made another smart move. He bought Tirana Bank from a Greek company that was struggling. Many people thought it was too risky. But Samir saw potential.
He invested $64 million, restructured the bank, and turned it into one of the most trusted financial institutions in Albania. Today, Tirana Bank has $1.7 billion in assets and is now worth around $155 million — more than double what he paid.
This is the kind of vision that makes Samir stand out. He doesn’t just follow trends; he creates them. Whether it’s electronics, real estate, or finance, he finds value where others see problems. It’s no wonder that BALFIN Group made $880 million in sales and $120 million in net profit in 2024. Those numbers show not just success, but steady, smart growth.
Staying True to His Values
Despite all his achievements, Samin Albania is known for staying humble. He often says that he built his fortune from scratch — not from politics or government favors.
In Albania, people sometimes use the word “oligarch” for wealthy business owners, but Samir is clear that he made his money independently. “I never took part in any privatizations,” he said in an interview. “I built my wealth in Austria and came back.”
He keeps away from politics and focuses only on his business. Even when his name appeared in some local investigations involving other politicians, he firmly denied any wrongdoing and was never charged or accused of any crimes. In a country where business and politics often mix, his reputation for clean, transparent work is one of the reasons many people admire him.
Helping Others: The Mane Foundation
Another side of Samin Albania that many people respect is his kindness and desire to help others. In 2023, he started the Mane Foundation, a charity that supports projects in education, healthcare, the environment, and poverty reduction across the Western Balkans.
He believes that business should not just be about profit. It should also help people live better lives. Through the foundation, he funds scholarships for young students, supports hospitals, and invests in environmental programs that make communities greener and cleaner.
It’s a way for him to give back to the country that once gave him so little, but now looks up to him as a national success story. As he often says, “Helping others is part of building a better Albania.”
A Billionaire with a Simple Dream
Even though he is now worth over $1.4 billion, Samin Albania often reminds people that his dream was never about being rich. When he fled to Austria as a 23-year-old refugee, his only wish was to one day own a car or a small house.
Today, he owns Balfin Group, which has more than 50 companies, 6,000 employees, and projects worth billions. But his attitude hasn’t changed much. He still values hard work, honesty, and patience.
People who work with him describe him as calm, focused, and always willing to listen. His CEO, Edlira Muka, once said that his biggest strength is his timing — “He always knows the right idea at the right moment.” That instinct has helped him grow his company step by step, year after year.
Changing Albania’s Future
If you visit Tirana East Gate Mall today, you’ll see something that represents much more than just a shopping center. It’s a symbol of progress. It shows how far Albania has come in just a few decades — from poverty and isolation to growth and opportunity.
Thanks to people like Samin Albania, young Albanians now believe they can build something of their own. His story gives hope to anyone who dreams of a better life. He turned his struggles into motivation and proved that even a small country can produce world-class entrepreneurs.
He also helped shape modern Albanian culture — making shopping malls, supermarkets, and modern retail a normal part of everyday life. Because of him, Albania now attracts major global brands, investors, and tourists.
A Global Example of Success
Today, Samin Albania stands proudly on the Forbes Billionaires List as the first and only Albanian billionaire. He ranks among some of the biggest names in business, but his journey is very different. He didn’t inherit wealth or get rich through politics. He started with nothing — just a dream and a lot of determination.
His story reminds us that success doesn’t depend on where you start, but on how far you are willing to go. He continues to invest in Albania’s tourism, real estate, and retail, and he believes the future of the country is bright. “Retail, real estate, and tourism — that’s our future,” he says confidently.
The Legacy of Samin Albania
What makes Samin Albania special isn’t only his money or his companies — it’s the legacy he’s creating. His journey from a refugee camp to becoming a billionaire inspires not just Albanians, but people all over the world.
He’s shown that success can come from hard work, smart choices, and the courage to dream big. He’s helping to shape a new Albania — one that is open, modern, and full of possibilities.
As Albania continues to grow and attract attention from investors, developers, and tourists, people will always remember the man who helped start it all — Samin Albania, the visionary who proved that anything is possible when you believe in your country and yourself.
