Field Fisher Waterhouse advises on Albanian ID cards roll out
18 August 2008
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.”
For further press information please
contact:
Louise Eckersley, PR Manager,
Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP on 020 7861 4120