Samir Manet, the man behind the BALFIN group working with Jumbo already in four countries and now expanding to six more new markets, is the definition of self-created and completely successful man in business, which from retail trade managed to create a huge group and become The first billionaire THE Albania.
Born on 24 December 1967 in Korycha, Albania, at a time when the country was under the strict isolation regime of Enver Hoja. He studied. geology at Tirana UniversityBut the collapse of communism in the early 1990s brought him to Austria where in the early years he worked as a translator and small merchant
In 1993 he founded in Vienna the Alba-Trade company, which was the core of its later business group. Its main activity was initially the trade in electrical and electronic devices from Austria to Albania. By trucks and bus transport it supplied the Albanian market with products that until then were almost impossible to find in the country.
From this activity Neptun electronics chain born, which evolved into the largest electronics chain in the Balkans. Neptun's success enabled Manet to expand rapidly into other areas.
The creation of BALFIN Group
Gradually, activities were organized under the «umbrella» BALFIN group (Balkan Finance Investment Group), which was converted into a business organisation with presence in many Southeast European countries.
The main areas of activity of BALFIN include:
- Retail trade
- Electronic and consumer goods
- Commercial centres
- Real estate development
- Banking sector
- Logistics
- Energy
Industrial investment
The development of the group coincides with Albania's rapid economic growth after 2000, where private consumption and foreign investment created a new business environment.
The malls and the real estate
One of Manet's most important steps was the entrance to the shopping mallsBALFIN developed QTU and later Tirana East Gate (TEG), Albania's largest shopping centre. These projects changed the retail model in the country, introducing Western-style malls and international clothing and consumption chains.
The group's malls hosted brands such as H&M, Zara, Adidas, Swarovski and many international fashion and lifestyle chains. At the same time, BALFIN expanded to high-value residential projects, such as Rolling Hills Luxury Residences, addressing Albania's new affluent order.
Banking market and cooperation with Jumbo
The group continued to diversify by investment in the banking market via Tirana Bank, and also developed logistics and distribution infrastructure. Manet's strategy was based on the creation of an integrated business ecosystem, where retail, real estate and logistics operate in combination.
In recent years Samir Manet found at the heart of Greek business news because of BALFIN's cooperation with Jumbo. BALFIN operates as Jumbo's strategic franchise partner in several Balkan markets, while cooperation was recently extended to new Eurasia countries.
According to Citigroup's financial analyses, the new cooperation model allows Jumbo to expand internationally without committing significant funds, while BALFIN has undertaken the development of stores, logistics and local market operation.
The agreement includes new markets with entry into Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan
International recognition and the «Club» of billionaires
In 2025 Samir Manet was included for the first time on the Forbes billionaire lists, which made him Albania's most prominent businessman internationally. His fortune estimated at over $1 billion, mainly due to the development of BALFIN and the rise in the value of its properties and holdings.
International instruments present him as a typical example of an entrepreneur in post-communist Europe, who started from small commercial activities and developed into a regional investment factor.
The charity activity
In 2023 he created the Mane Foundation, το οποίο λειτουργεί ως φιλανθρωπικός και κοινωνικός βραχίονας του ομίλου BALFIN. Το ίδρυμα χρηματοδοτεί εκπαιδευτικά προγράμματα, υγειονομικές δομές, κοινωνικές δράσεις, πολιτιστικές πρωτοβουλίες και υποστήριξη ευάλωτων ομάδων στα Βαλκάνια.
Η επιχειρηματική διαδρομή του Σαμίρ Μανέ αποτυπώνει τη μετάβαση της Αλβανίας από μια απομονωμένη κρατική οικονομία σε ένα ανοιχτό καπιταλιστικό μοντέλο. Από μικροέμπορος ηλεκτρονικών στις αρχές της δεκαετίας του 1990, εξελίχθηκε σε ιδρυτή ενός από τους μεγαλύτερους επιχειρηματικούς ομίλους της Νοτιοανατολικής Ευρώπης, με ισχυρή επιρροή στο λιανεμπόριο, τα ακίνητα και τις επενδύσεις των Βαλκανίων.
