Business community concerned over scanning concession

TIRANA, May 1 – Few days after majority MPs approved in Parliament a 15-year concession contract to United States-based Rapiscan Security on the scanning of containers in customs points, the business community is concerned over lack of transparency and consultations and the high tariffs they will be charged. Nikolin Jaka, the head of the Tirana Chamber of Commerce says that a private company cannot carry out controls on private companies. “If the customs administration cannot afford the purchase of scanners, than a tariff should be placed on businesses and the system managed by state authorities,” Jaka told local media. Meanwhile, the Association of Albanian exporters is concerned over lack of consultations with the business community and the high tariff imposed for the scanning of containers.
No details have been made on when the service will be made available on when the service is expected to start.
United States-based Rapiscan Security has been awarded a 15-year concession contract to scan containers and vehicles in five Albanian customs points in an effort to prevent smuggling of excise goods and narcotics.
Under the contract with Rapiscan Security, the U.S based company will charge Euro 39 for each scanning of containers or other transportation vehicles which is estimated to bring Euro 12 million in annual revenues to the concessionaire considering that the Customs Administration reports some 300,000 declarations. The Albanian government will get 2 percent of the income.
Containers or vehicles with a weight of up to 1,000 kg or goods worth up to Euro 1,000 will be excluded from the tariff. Finance Ministry officials say the contracting of a concessionaire was a necessity considered that the customs administration lacks both qualified staff to carry out the scanning and necessary financial resources to maintain the equipment.
The contract comes just after the Albanian government has signed a 10-year concession contract with Austria-based Global Fluids International to monitor the quality of fuel by marking it. The Association of Fuel Importers describes the concession as an unfair monopoly which risks a further increase in fuel prices, already at their historical record high levels.