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The center will operate using a contemporary lab and equipment, where all the data is processed, as well as a modern control unit.

The investment is part of a project by the British government to improve the security of Albania’s Port’s and border entries.

The opening event was attended by the Director General of Albanian Customs, Shpetim Idrizi, and the British Ambassador to Albania, Richard Jones.

In his remarks, Mr. Idrizi emphasized the fact that now Albania’s two main ports and four customs border entries are operating using the computerized ASYCUDA system. 70 % of all customs declarations are done using this system, according to him.

“The ASYCUDA system has been implemented in a record time in all our main customs entrée points. The system in now fully functional in the customs branches of Tirana, Durres, Qafe-Thane, Kakavije, Vlore and lately in Kapshtica also,” Idrizi said.

According to him, 80-85 % coverage of all transactions which is done using the ASYCUDA system a concrete result. “Besides this, the customs authorities have made possible the on-line connection between the Customs General Directorate, the Operational-Investigative Department and the Durres and Tirana customs centers, which allows the full functioning of the ASYCUDA system according to all the parameters and technical managing characteristics of the system,” he said.

In a further statement Mr. Idrizi said that by the end of 2005 this computerized system will be available at all the customs offices in the country.