US-based construction consultant Hill International has been selected by the European Union (EU) to lead a consortium helping Albania boost its capacity for implementing infrastructure projects.
The goal is to strengthen the government’s major-project capacity and accountability in preparation for eventual EU membership.
Albania has been a candidate for EU membership since 2014.
EU member states are now mulling whether to open talks on another enlargement that would include Albania, but some EU countries oppose the talks because of concern over organised crime and corruption.Â
Hill leads a consortium including Deloitte Albania and LDK Consultants.
"We share the vision to support the Republic of Albania to enter into a new era of development and sustainable growth, hence triggering several benefits to the Albanian economy as a whole and promoting regional cooperation," said Manolis Sigalas, Hill’s Vice President and Managing Director for Southern Europe.Â
"We are committed to working hard as a team with all stakeholders involved in this significant program, transferring international know-how, and, importantly, developing the local talent."
Image: Skanderberg Square in the centre of Tirana, capital of Albania (AltynAsyr/CC BY-SA 3.0)
