During the event, Director General of the Customs Genti Gazheli emphasized that the fight against evasion knows no borders and that technology, data and international partnerships are the main weapons for improving efficiency.

He highlighted the use of systems such as ASYCUDA, Artificial Intelligence and cooperation with institutions such as the Guardia di Finanza, UNDP, OECD and SECO, to analyze risks and improve revenues.

According to Gazheli, the results achieved speak for themselves, with 2 billion euros in revenue in just 10 months, despite the existing challenges.

The forum also highlighted the significance of transparency, digitalization and partnerships, as key elements for creating a fair and efficient economy.

This activity strengthens Albania’s efforts to modernize its tax and customs administration, using international best practices and technology to combat tax evasion. /r.e/a.f/p.s./

The WB experts particularly appreciated the “Single Window” project, a component of the project being developed in the Western Balkans to facilitate and simplify trade and transport.

Regarding the new project on “International Computerized Transit”, Gazheli emphasized that it will place Albania alongside European countries in terms of simplifying customs procedures.

During the meeting, it was announced that the third project with the World Bank, that of implementing the “Common Customs Point” with North Macedonia in Qafë Thana, for implementation of the “One Stop Shop” procedure, has further facilitated customs procedures in import and export from both sides of the border. /j.p/p.s./

Gazheli’s visit follows the call of the Customs Administration on travelers to declare correctly the monetary values at the Border Crossing Points.

The law provides that all persons who enter or leave the territory of the Republic of Albania are obliged to declare the amounts in money, precious stones, valuables and antique objects, starting from the amount of 10,000 Euros, the purpose of their holding, as well as to present relevant justifying documents.

The declaration is made at the offices of the Customs Administration through filling in a special form.

The Customs Administration warned against false or incorrect declaration reminding the law which envisages fine and other measures according to the Penal Code./r.e/p.s./

General Director of the Customs Genti Gazheli paid a working visit to the Rinas Customs Branch, where he closely discussed the measures taken by the relevant customs units.

Rinas Airport is the only international airport in our country, and this year it is experiencing an increase in flight lines and passengers.

The number of passengers through “Mother Teresa” International Airport reached 5.2 million by September 25, surpassing the record set throughout 2022./p.s./

During this meeting, the head of the Albanian Customs positively assessed the cooperation so far with the Italian counterparts and appreciated their very valuable assistance in improving performance and aligning many procedures with those of European countries.

Gazheli emphasized that, “SEED regional project is rather important while its success has been certified over the years. There is also the Memorandum of Understanding between the General Directorate of Customs and the Italian Customs Agency, from 2003, in the field of exchange of information and the fight against trafficking, between the two shores of the Adriatic, the implementation of which has had and still has a significant impact on the prevention, detection and punishment of illegal trafficking”.

This protocol, he continued, has already been updated with the developments in technology and the needs of our two administrations. And the periodic information exchanges are currently carried out electronically in reports generated by the respective systems.

In his first visit abroad, Mazzella praised the cooperation through joint projects and emphasized that this will increase in the future so that to bring Albania and the Western Balkans closer to the European Union.

Currently, Italy is among the main countries of trade exchanges with our country where for 2022 they account for 29% of the total value./r.e/p.s./

During this visit, the head of Albanian Customs acquainted the company’s representatives with all the facilities of customs procedures that this business can benefit from.

“Forschner Albania” has applied to the Albanian Customs Administration for getting the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) status so that to benefit from a favorable and priority treatment in risk assessment and customs controls, as well as have access to the use of all simplifications and facilities provided by the customs legislation.

The Customs Administration has offered to the business cooperation regarding facilitation of the procedures as well as authorization for Local Customs Clearance, in the premises of the subject, so that to reduce the time of processing the declarations.

“Forschner Albania”  has been in our country since 2015 in the field of active processing in the automotive sector, producing electric line cables for buses, heavy vehicles, and recently for Mercedes-Benz cars. It has currently 1040 employees. /p.s./

Gazheli said that the General Directorate of Customs has significantly improved customs procedures, a fact certified by the IFC (World Bank) study and the Balkan Barometer.

“Our goal is the digitization of services to business and citizens as well as the facilitation of customs procedures in function of the modernization of the Administration, the acceleration of control processes on the basis of risk analysis and the exchange of information with partners and customs of other countries”, emphasized Gazheli.

On his part, the ambassador of Brazil in Tirana emphasized the significance of promoting cooperation in order to have more investments and commercial exchanges between the two countries.

Trade volume between Albania and Brazil has recorded progress during 2022 estimated at 45 million Euros./p.s./

During this meeting, the head of Customs asked for more commitment on the part of every customs officer, considering that the Customs Administration has an important role in the free movement of people and goods.

Gazheli also emphasized the need to offer a quality service according to standards for every citizen or business./gj.m/p.s./

Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia already have bilateral agreements on mutual recognition of AEO in the framework of the “Open Balkan” initiative and the same text of the agreement has been negotiated at the technical level with Kosovo. The agreement with Kosovo is expected to be signed at the joint meeting of the two governments to be held on June 24, 2022.

The meeting for mutual recognition of AEO within CEFTA was held today in Tirana, where the General Director of Customs Gent Gazheli was present, as well as representatives of the validation team of the program, CEFTA, GIZ and DG Taxud.

Gazheli said that Albania has already harmonized the legislation with the EU for AEOs.

Meanwhile so far, according to him, 8 operators have gained this status.

“During 2021, we received the first applications and approved the status of 8 Authorized Economic Operators, mainly from the most consolidated and most correct businesses in the relationship with the Customs Administration. The interest of 9 other operators to obtain the status of Authorized Economic Operators is an indicator of the increased trust in the customs administration and the fact that the advantages of AEO are efficient “, said Gazheli.

But, he noted, the AEO status for economic operators would be incomplete without the joint recognition of the countries of the region, as the aim is to facilitate procedures for AEO in export and import with the countries of the region and further with the member states of the European Union.

“The Albanian Government priority is to create a favorable climate for business, which it considers the engine of economic development of the country. So, the mutual recognition of AEOs between CEFTA member countries undoubtedly brings great relief to the Operators who will benefit from this status throughout the region”, said head of the Albanian customs. /j.p/p.s./

In his speech, Gazheli praised the promotion of cooperation between the European Union and the countries of the Western Balkans through a series of initiatives to facilitate and increase trade, remove or reduce barriers, ensure free movement of goods, as well as ensure the harmonization of rules and procedures with EU legislation to facilitate access to the European common market.

The launch of “Green Corridors” has proven to be one of the most successful examples in regional cooperation, not only in terms of increasing trade volumes with economic benefits provided by free trade, but also in the effective management of vaccines and medical drugs in specific conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic “, he said.

Within CEFTA, the preliminary exchange of information between customs administrations is enabled by the SEED system (Systematic Exchange of Electronic Data), which has significantly increased the interconnection and efficiency of processing customs declarations of 6 Western Balkan countries, members of CEFTA- s./p.s./