Interview with Mr. Artan Pjetërnikaj, Member of the Board of Directors, Sigma VIG

1. Mr. Pjetërnikaj, you are part of the Board of Directors at Sigma VIG, and, among other responsibilities, you oversee the legal and claims departments. How do you see the responsibility of an insurance company in this regard in Albania?

The role of an insurance company is not merely to offer and sell insurance products, but also to ensure that when an undesirable event occurs, the client genuinely feels the support of the insurance system through compensation. This requires a fair, transparent, and swift claims process, as …

The Albanian insurance market is undergoing continuous transformation, yet Sigma Vienna Insurance Group (Sigma VIG) has managed to achieve sustainable growth, strong performance, and reinforce its position as one of the most reliable, long-term oriented insurance companies in the country.

Strong Market Performance in 2025

According to data published by the Albanian Financial Supervisory Authority (AMF) for the period January–May 2025, Sigma VIG recorded:

ALL 1.18 billion in gross written premiums (+6.23% compared to the same period in 2024).

ALL 442 million in claim payments (+3.43%), at a time when the total market’s claim payments decreased by -4.27%.

These results …

Summer is the season of freedom, travel, adventure, and new experiences. But while you plan your destinations, bookings, and itinerary, one essential question remains: who takes care of your safety and your belongings?

The answer is clear: SIGMA Vienna Insurance Group, part of Vienna Insurance Group – a leader in insurance across Central and Eastern Europe, with over 200 years of international experience and more than two decades of presence in the Albanian and Kosovar markets.

At a time when travel and outdoor activities intensify, the need for functional, accessible, and reliable insurance is greater than ever.

Health Insurance – …

For the first time, Albania hosted one of the most important regional forums of the Vienna Insurance Group (VIG): the Underwriting and Claims Management Conference, the leading insurance group in Central and Eastern Europe.

The conference was held at the Rogner Hotel in Tirana and brought together around 91 participants from 21 countries and 36 member companies of the group, together with the strategic risk management partner, Risk Consult. The two-day event focused on the most current topics and challenges facing the sector, such as sustainability, the implementation of the Transition Plan, the use of artificial intelligence in underwriting, and …

As part of SIGMA VIG’s commitment to environmental sustainability and social responsibility, part of our objectives within the framework of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance), on April 22, 2025, Earth Day, the company’s staff held an awareness-raising activity with students of the “Sami Frashëri” High School in Tirana. The activity focused on the critical topics of climate change and environmental protection.

During this meeting, SIGMA VIG representatives presented educational materials, accompanied by information brochures, with the aim of raising awareness and encouraging young people to engage in environmental issues.

In particular, the school students made presentations and creative activities prepared by …

When most people hear the word insurance, their first thought is “another bill to pay.” The second thought? Prices going up everywhere—food, energy, education, even summer vacations. In this mix, insurance often feels like an unnecessary cost.

But the truth is different. Insurance is not simply another expense, a financial plan that protects your future, your family, and your investments. When you buy a home, start a business, or even just want to secure your health, insurance is the safety net that helps you stay strong against unexpected events.

Every day we witness risks around us: fires, floods, accidents, illnesses, …

Finally, the time has come for each of us to take care for our health, without any hesitation, even if it can be interpreted as excessive 'worry'. Especially for Albanian women. From whom much is expected, both inside and outside the family, which means that they always leave themselves last. Even when it comes to health. Fortunately, times have changed! Now good health is the first thought of each day for each of us! Yes, but how are we taking care of our health?

A long series of risks directly related to health threaten us every day. Without dwelling too …

A study commissioned by Austria’s largest insurance company and one of the largest in Europe, Vienna Insurance Group (VIG), has found that young people aged 18-29 are more risk-aware than people aged 30-65. However, both age groups, for various reasons, do not act to limit the potential financial damage from risks and have very little financial knowledge.

The study was conducted by Gallup International in nine countries in 2023 (Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Slovakia), with around 9,000 participants aged 18-65 (including 2,081 aged 18-29).

The following risks were used to assess risk knowledge: …

The Albanian Insurers Association held a media briefing on Friday to address the latest insurance market developments and the challenges ahead for 2025.

Kadri Morinaj, Chairman of the Association, emphasized that this year began with a major reform: the introduction of risk-based pricing for motor insurance premiums. According to him, this measure not only enhances customer care but also strengthens market sustainability. Albanian insurance companies have welcomed this new premium calculation model, which has long been standard practice among European insurers.

Mr. Çitozi noted that the 2021 insurance law was designed primarily to protect consumers and ensure fairer premium …

The truth is, we all download apps very often and abandon some along the way. Before we're enjoying our morning coffee or stuck in traffic, chances are that we're dealing with an app. Whether it helps you find a meeting point, remember your diet or make a payment, one thing is clear: apps are a necessary part of our micro-moments. Statistics show that we spend an average of 30 hours per month dealing with different applications, because in modern times, we all want to know where, when and what! Of course some will not be used for too long, but …