The first spark of Ivanka Trump's interest in Albania came while swimming in the crystal-clear waters surrounding Sazan Island. Now, years later, the daughter of U.S. President Donald Trump is helping lead one of the most ambitious tourism investments ever proposed in the country.
Speaking in a lengthy conversation with podcaster David Senra, Ivanka offered fresh insights into the vision behind the luxury developments planned for Sazan Island and Zvërnec, describing the projects as both a business venture and a personal challenge.
According to Ivanka, the development of Sazan Island requires a careful balance between realizing the area's potential and protecting its natural environment. She emphasized that the project is being approached with restraint and long-term planning, rather than rapid development.
She explained that imagination and vision are central to the project's success, adding that the development will involve collaboration with some of the world's leading architects and designers. The scale and complexity of the undertaking mean that it could take many years—possibly more than a decade—to fully complete.
One of the most notable aspects of her remarks was her focus on understanding Albania before building in it. Ivanka said she has been reading works by Albanian writers and studying the country's culture and history as part of her effort to gain a deeper appreciation of the place where the investment is taking shape.
"You have to understand a place before imposing yourself on it," she said, describing her approach to the project and the importance of respecting local identity.
The Kushner family's Albanian investment plans include an ultra-luxury resort on Sazan Island as well as a second tourism complex in the Zvërnec area. The project is being developed through the company Zvërnec South Adriatic Development and has been linked by U.S. media reports to Jared Kushner and investors from Qatar.
Supporters of the investment argue that the projects could transform Albania into a premier Mediterranean luxury tourism destination and attract significant international attention. Critics, meanwhile, have raised concerns about the environmental impact of large-scale development in some of the country's most sensitive coastal areas.
As planning continues, the Sazan and Zvërnec developments remain among the most closely watched investment projects in Albania, with their future likely to shape the country's tourism landscape for decades to come.