TIRANA, March 25 – A French company has been chosen to manufacture new biometric passports and identity cards for Albania.
Paris-based Sagem Securite will begin produce ID cards and new passports within the next six months following the signing of the contract, according to Interior Minister Bujar Nishani.
Sagem Security was chosen following a review of seven companies taking part in an international tender. Three of the companies were disqualified for not supplying the correct documentation.
Producing new biometric passports is another step for Albania to comply with international standards and European Union standards as it seeks to become a EU member.
Albanians have had no new ID cards since the fall of communism in 1990 due to problems with the civil registry.
The civil registry has also been an issue of political disagreement between the two main political parties who each blame the other for manipulations during the elections.
The opposition immediately reacted to the news, saying they had known the French company would be selected.
