Albanian watchdog suspects cartel among suppliers of state vehicles

TIRANA, Jan 19؁lbania’s competition authority announced that it had opened a formal investigation into four companies suspected of cartel operations in the supply of new vehicles from public funds.
“The preliminary investigation into the procurement market of new vehicles shows that there is evidence of cooperation among four companies: Classik Sh.pk 4, Ultramotors Sh.pk, Noti Ltd, and Hyundai Ltd, in participating in public procurement, which may constitute a concerted practice among firms operating in the market in question,” the authority said in a statement.
“We have noted that the procurement of new vehicles with public funds in Albania is controlled by agreements among the four companies,” the authority added.
The regulator created in 2004 has also started official investigations into the insurance market and mobile telecommunications.