Speaking at a forum with business associations, entrepreneurs and procurement experts on increasing participation in procedures run by the Centralized Purchasing Operator (OBP), Ibrahimaj said Albania had made significant progress in digitalising public procurement processes.

She said reforms had improved transparency, traceability and standardisation, while data show a rise in the number of procedures managed by the OBP and a decline in complaints, reflecting the impact of unified methodologies and documentation.

“Broader participation of businesses in public procurement brings stronger competition, higher-quality goods and services and lower costs for citizens,” Ibrahimaj said.

Following recent legal amendments, the OBP will also take on responsibility for conducting procurement procedures in the information technology sector, expanding the scope of centralised purchasing and ensuring more standardised and efficient processes in what the minister described as a strategic field.

Ibrahimaj also announced the development of a new procurement system in cooperation with the World Bank, which will incorporate artificial intelligence across the entire procurement cycle.

“I think Albania will be the first country to use AI-powered procurement processes. Some countries use it for parts of the process, but not throughout,” she said.

According to the Minister, the new system will further enhance transparency, shorten procedural timelines and simplify processes for businesses by automating a large share of procedures and reducing manual intervention.

Public procurement accounts for a significant portion of government expenditure and represents substantial potential for Albanian businesses, she added, noting that the country’s public procurement law is aligned with European Union directives, preparing domestic firms to compete in EU procedures.

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Addressing an extended meeting of the Socialist Party’s parliamentary group and cabinet members, PM Rama said that ruling majority has decided to create the Concentrated Procurement Operator, a joint-stock company tasked with carrying out the special procedures for public procurement and which officially started its operations on April 25.

The government head said that the company will carry out all the public procurement procedures commissioned by the ministries and their subordinate institutions.

“None of the cabinet members and none of the government structures will have to do with the public tenders, but instead they will deal with developing the sectoral policies only,” PM Rama added.

The agency will bear the name “Concentrated Procurement Operator” with 100% state capital, for the provision of procurement services for contracting authorities/entities, in accordance with the requirements of the relevant legislation in force.

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