Today, USAID/Albania delivered to Albania’s Central Inspectorate (CI) 260 Portable Inspection Kits that consist of laptop computers and portable scanners and printers for inspectors to use in the field for efficient, on-line, real-time inspections. Government inspections are vital for ensuring regulations that safeguard human health, safety, and the environment are properly functioning.  In Albania, however, the process is lengthy and costly to businesses.  Businesses in Albania used to spend on average 45 days each year on various inspections.  The Portable Inspection Kits will transform how inspectors will conduct field inspections and greatly reduce the opportunities for corruption in the process.

USAID/Washington’s Assistant Administrator for the Bureau of Europe and Eurasia, Paige Alexander, Minister of Innovation and Public Administration Milena Harito, and General Inspector Mimoza Hajdarmataj delivered remarks at the ceremony.  Alexander highlighted the importance of the inspection reform process and the fact that, for the first time, the U.S. Government has provided assistance through Government of Albania’s systems. 

To reduce the burden on business, increase the effectiveness and improve the transparency of government inspections, the Government of Albania launched a regulatory reform process in the field of inspections. The CI, created in 2011 to coordinate and improve the quality of all inspections, began work to develop an “E-Inspection Portal” that consists of software, hardware, policies and procedures for government inspectors to coordinate, conduct, and monitor inspections in a reliable and transparent manner aiming to prevent corruption and informality.

The provision of USAID assistance to the CI is unique as it is the first time USAID/Albania will use the Government of Albania's procurement and finance systems to channel U.S. development assistance funds.