An Albanian-American festival this month hosted in Detroit showed how business people from the small Balkan nation build relationships and businesses in the United States. 

Festival sponsor John Goci told Balkan Business Wire about 10,000 people attended the event throughout the June 2-4 weekend. As a sponsor, Goci helped write the press release for the event. His real estate company, John Goci Real Estate, is affiliated with Keller Williams.

Goci said some big names in Albania performed at the festiva, including Sabri Fejzullahu, Genta Ismajli, Fredrik Ndoci, Endri & Stefi Prifti, Gjuste Vulaj, Gezim Nika, Ermira Babaliu and Artur Matia – although two artists, NIkoll Nikprelaj and Gena, were not able to show. Other attractions included Albanian dancing, Albanian food and activities for children. Visitors paid a $20 admission fee per day or $30 for the full three-day event.

“Albanian people from the Balkans have excelled here with their great work ethic,” Goci said. “This should be an example to the rest of the Balkans.”

Goci said Balkan countries that can remove corruption from their governments and foster innovation can offer “better lifestyles for all involved.”

The majority of Albanians who come to the U.S. can take advantage of the opportunities that are provided to them, and looking at the U.S. can provide a model for some of the countries in the Balkans to adapt and modernize their countries for greater international success, he said. 

Goci said “cronyism” and related problems that tend to give neighbor countries a bad reputation but suggested that moving past these traditional obstacles could launch Balkan economies to new heights.

Festivals like this one can give Balkan countries more of a presence in the American landscape and highlight progress and achievements made across the Atlantic.