Logistics Leader of the Year / 2029 / Albania
Genc Mataj is a respected leader in Albania’s logistics and transport sector and a central figure behind the growth of Pelikan, a company that has become an established operator in regional road freight. His career is rooted in practical operations, with years of direct involvement in the movement of cargo across Albania and into key European markets such as Italy, Greece, Germany, and other Balkan states.
At Pelikan, Mataj has overseen steady growth in both scale and capability. The company operates a fleet that serves full truckload and groupage cargo, supporting a mix of industrial goods, fast moving consumer products, and time sensitive shipments. Its activities are concentrated along major Balkan and European corridors, where road freight accounts for a significant share of trade flows, often exceeding 70 percent of inland cargo movement in the region.
Under his leadership, Pelikan has built a reputation for reliability in cross border transport, an area that is often constrained by customs processes and infrastructure limitations. Albania’s trade has grown consistently over the past decade, with total trade volumes running into billions of euros annually, and companies like Pelikan play a critical role in enabling that flow. Mataj has positioned the business to respond to this demand by focusing on fleet availability, route efficiency, and consistent delivery timelines.
His leadership approach is grounded in discipline and operational control. Investments have been directed toward maintaining roadworthy vehicles, improving scheduling and dispatch systems, and strengthening driver performance standards. This has allowed Pelikan to handle increasing shipment volumes while maintaining service consistency across routes that can stretch over 1,000 kilometers per trip.
Mataj also understands the structural realities of Southeast Europe, where logistics performance can vary widely across borders. By building relationships across multiple markets and maintaining flexibility in routing, Pelikan has been able to reduce delays and improve reliability for clients moving goods between the Balkans and the European Union.
Through his work, Mataj contributes to a sector that is central to Albania’s economic integration with Europe. Road transport remains the dominant mode of freight in the region, and operators like Pelikan provide the backbone for trade connectivity. His focus remains on building a business that is steady, trusted, and capable of supporting growing regional commerce through consistent execution.
