“Apply for Authorized Economic Operator status”/ Malaj and Gazheli: Customs facilitation and increased efficiency
The Minister of Finance, Petrit Malaj, together with the Director General of Customs, Genti Gazheli, conducted a working visit to two Albanian companies, which have benefited from the status of Authorized Economic Operator. Minister Malaj was closely acquainted with the activity of the companies and the benefits that this status has brought to them. One of the companies, carries out its economic activity as a producer and exporter in the sector of duralumin profiles and the automotive industry, with around 530 employees and operates throughout the entire production chain, from processing to finished products for the domestic market and export. Around 60–65% of its production is exported to markets such as Italy, the United States of America, Canada and countries in the region. Then, at the other company, specialized in the wholesale and retail trade of electrical, civil, and industrial materials, as well as their design and installation, the Minister of Finance praised the benefits brought by the Authorized Economic Operator status and called on all businesses to apply to benefit.
"We call on all businesses in Albania, which have an activity that connects them with import and export at the Customs Directorate, to consider the opportunity to obtain the Authorized Economic Operator certification, because it gives you more simplified customs procedures, fewer customs controls, but even in those cases when there are controls, entities that have this certification have a priority in terms of processing customs procedures," Malaj emphasized.
For his part, the Director General of Customs noted that the AEO status is based on mutual trust and cooperation between the customs administration and legitimate businesses.
During the visit, Malaj took the opportunity to inform that Albania is currently working intensively to approximate the Customs Code with European Union legislation, a process that is expected to be completed within this year.
"Albania is moving rapidly towards the approximation of its entire legal framework with the directives of the European Union. The General Directorate of Customs is currently working to approximate and harmonize the entire Customs Code with the requirements of the EU directives and within this year we will complete this entire process. The Albanian Customs Code will be the same as the Customs Code that applies in the European Union. Therefore, these facilities that you have already benefited from should also benefit other operators, so that they too can be more efficient and more competitive in the market where we will join very soon" - said the Minister of Finance.
The benefits of AEO status are granted depending on the type of authorization, such as more favorable treatment with regard to risk assessment and controls; simplified or exclusive access to certain customs simplifications; and mutual recognition agreements with other countries.
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