The celebration of thirty years of public procurement in Albania represented a moment of great symbolic and political value. At the invitation of the Director of the National Procurement Agency, Reida Kashta, and in the presence of Prime Minister Edi Rama, the President of ASSORUP, Daniele Ricciardi, took part in an event.
The conference retraced the fundamental milestones of a system that has grown in transparency, integrity, and professionalism, and has today become a benchmark model in the Balkan region.
Ricciardi recalled how, back in 2006, he had the honor of contributing to the drafting of the first Albanian procurement law, inspired by European directives. This marked the beginning of a path of modernization and openness towards EU standards. In this journey, a decisive role was played by Reida Kashta, whose competence and dedication enabled the enormous development of the Albanian system, making it today a point of reference for neighboring countries.
In the panel dedicated to integrity and professionalization, ASSORUP shared the experience of a community that, in Italy, has established itself as a national reference point for Public Procurement Managers (RUPs). Ricciardi was able to engage directly with the Secretary General of ANAC, Filippo Romano, present at the debate, thanking the Authority for the sponsorship granted to the RUP Day. This exchange strengthened the institutional bond and gave further momentum to the European debate on the professionalization of public contracts.
The celebration was also a valuable occasion for international networking. The President had the opportunity to get in touch with representatives of the World Bank and the European Investment Bank, as well as with the procurement agencies of Turkey, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. These contacts will be fundamental in giving substance to the project of the European RUP Network, an initiative aimed at building a stable platform for dialogue and cooperation among public procurement professionals.
Another significant moment was the meeting with Klodiana Cankja, former Director of PPA and expert of the “Training of the Trainers” project. Her competence and enthusiasm would be powerful for the creation of a community of public buyers in Albania where the procurement certification will be mandatory from 2026. A step that will mark further progress towards accountability and professionalization of public contract managers.
At the conclusion of his speech, Ricciardi announced the initiative promoted by ASSORUP for the creation of a European community of public buyers, inviting colleagues from all over Europe to participate actively. More information is available on the website EU.ppm.net.
The ground is fertile: the new European directives have yet to be written, and precisely for this reason it is essential that the community of procurement professionals be ready. Honest, competent, and responsible “workers” are needed, capable of translating the principles of integrity and transparency into daily practices.
ASSORUP reiterated its willingness to contribute to this process, emphasizing that the celebration of thirty years of public procurement in Albania was not just an anniversary, but a bridge to the future: a future in which the professionalization of RUPs becomes a guarantee of quality, trust, and development for institutions and citizens.
