Field Fisher Waterhouse Advises On Albanian ID Cards Roll Out

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP has advised the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Albania on a five year contract for the issuing of biometric ID cards and electronic passports to all Albanian citizens. The concession contract has been awarded to a consortium comprising security systems specialists, Sagem Sécurite and the Albanian American Enterprise Fund.

The roll out of ID cards and biometric passports to over 3.6 million Albanian citizens is of high importance to the Albanian government which has promised the documents in 2009.

The project is one of the largest government IT projects ever undertaken in Albania and covers production and distribution as well as designing, building and running a biometric database containing all Albanian citizens.

Michael Chissick, head of Field Fisher Waterhouse’s Technology Law Group led on the project, working alongside Albanian firm, Apicella & Partners. All negotiations took place in Tirana where Michael was based for the duration of the negotiation process.

Field Fisher Waterhouse was appointed to work on the project along with Apicella & Partners, based on a competitive process organised by Concession Agency of the Republic of Albania. The firm was chosen due to its expertise in security and biometrics and its track record advising on large scale, complex, technology projects.

Michael Chissick, Field Fisher Waterhouse said: “This project is high profile in Albania and a priority for the Government who have committed to issuing the passports and ID cards next year. It involved complex discussions with ministers from the Albanian government as well as working closely with a consortium made up of a French supplier and a local enterprise fund.”

Shkelqim Kerluku, head of the Concession Agency of the Republic of Albania said: “We were looking to appoint an international law firm with expertise in working on large public sector technology contracts of this kind. We chose Field Fisher Waterhouse based on the firm’s excellent track record on complex technology procurements and specific experience in biometrics.”