TIRANA, March 30 /ATA/ The Director General of Customs, Besmir Beja, held a meeting with the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Albania, Nicholas Abbott, with a focus on further strengthening bilateral cooperation in customs and border security.
During the meeting, Beja acknowledged the ongoing support from the United Kingdom to the Albanian Customs Administration, highlighting that collaboration with British institutions has played a key role in strengthening operational capabilities and modernizing inspection procedures.
For his part, Ambassador Abbott commended the progress made by the Albanian Customs Administration and expressed his readiness to further deepen this cooperation.
“Albania remains an important partner for the United Kingdom in tackling shared challenges, such as combating smuggling, illicit trafficking, and strengthening border control,” Abbott stated.
He underlined the importance of advancing joint projects designed to strengthen security and streamline legitimate trade.
During the discussions, the participants focused on the tangible results achieved through years of cooperation, notably the implementation of advanced monitoring systems at border crossing points and joint operations at the Port of Durrës, which have significantly contributed to the prevention of illicit activities and the strengthening of inspection efficiency.
The parties also discussed the need to step up information exchange and to utilize advanced technologies for risk analysis, with a view to tackling emerging challenges related to security and international trade.
The meeting further reaffirmed the strong level of cooperation between Albanian and British institutions, as well as their shared commitment to elevating this partnership to a more advanced stage, in service of security, economic development, and regional integration.
/sm/
