in 2004 the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs – DGCS has identified the programme related to the completion of the Hospital ‘Lady of Good Counsel’ as one of the priority programmes to support the health care system in Albania.

For that reason already during 2004 a study has been tasked to IMG in order to provide all information needed to evaluate the feasibility of the operation.

Following the positive outcome of the study and the acceptance by MAE - DGCS of its conclusions, in July 2005, IMG has been asked to prepare the Project Design and elaborate a comprehensive tender dossier with the view of the future implementation of the construction works.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health of Albania and the Italo – Albanian Foundation ‘Lady of Good Counsel’, which has been created to manage all future activities of the Hospital, have stipulated an agreement. In the agreement it is stated that one of the goals is to strengthen and improve the Health care system in Albania, allowing the provision of specialised health care services, currently unavailable in the country.

The actual value of the services provided by IMG is about 1M€ and includes the preparation of the Project design and elaboration of tender documents.

Currently the Project Design is about to be completed and it is expected to be delivered to the Foundation and Albanian Authorities during the month of May 2006.

The Tender documents for the selection of the contractor for civil works and the suppliers for the needed equipments and installations will be issued immediately after, following the availability of funds for the implementation of the Programme which is estimated at 20 M€.