Customs and trade facilitation expert with more than 30 years of diversified work experience, and 20 years of proven record of managerial and executive level experience. More than 20 years of engagement in Customs management and modernization reform, including 16 years of active service with the Albanian Customs Administration. 

My main expertise is in the formulation, management and coordination of technical assistance projects on Customs modernization (reform to meet the EU accession standards and other international standards), integrated border management and border infrastructure modernization, and trade facilitation. In addition, I am fully conversant with the whole range of customs techniques (procedures, regimes, valuation, origin, enforcement, free zones, dry ports, etc.). 

I am also fully familiar with international standards in Customs and border security/integrated border management functionalities; in particular, I have proven experience in the application of EU standards (EU Customs Blueprints were I have participated in their initial drafting process), the EU Guidelines for IBM, UNECE guidelines and UNCTAD notes on trade facilitation and all relevant WCO/WTO regulations and recommendations.

I have a long-standing experience of working in an international environment as Head of the International Relations and Customs Cooperation Department in the Albanian Customs, subsequently as the Albanian Customs Liaison Officer in the SECI Centre, as Deputy-Director General of the Albanian Customs, UCTAD Senior Customs Advisor and Freelance Consultant in several project-related assignments in developing countries as of 2007. 

Another area of my expertise is in drafting technical specifications for tendering and supervision of mechanical works (all ranges of works), technical specifications and tender dossier preparation according to EU PRAG and FIDIC contract conditions.

In those and similar positions, I acquired extensive experience interacting with senior officials in Government, private sector, and international organizations. In all my positions in the Albanian Customs, EU, the World Bank, UNCTAD, USAID, and IMF management and coordination project structures, I was deeply involved in technical cooperation activities.