As employers increasingly look to expand their global reach, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe continue to provide attractive opportunities for entrepreneurs. Effectively closed to foreign investment and travel for decades, the Republic of Albania has undergone many changes in recent years. Strategically located in central Europe, only 45 miles from Italy and bordered by the Ionian and Adriatic seas, Albania occupies a geographically and culturally important location within Europe. Albania became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and formally applied for entry into the European Union in 2009. Albania has become an increasingly popular tourist draw, creating jobs in its fledgling tourism sector, and attracting foreign investment. Although personal services and tourism account for the majority of cash revenue in the economy, Albania has also been opening its energy and transportation sectors to foreign investment, creating additional jobs for its citizens and opportunities for foreign investors.