Greater opportunities for Canadian companies doing business with Albania

For more than 72 years, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has negotiated bilateral security instruments with other countries and international organizations to promote trade and economic growth. This is achieved by facilitating the participation of Canadian businesses in foreign government and international organization procurement contracts requiring the exchange of classified government information.

In June 2024, Canada signed its 26th bilateral security instrument, in a Memorandum of Understanding with Albania.

The new instrument was negotiated by PSPC’s Industrial Security Sector, in alignment with the Government of Canada priorities of keeping Canada’s economy strong and growing, and of positioning Canada for success in an uncertain world. It does so by allowing greater trade and assisting in the pursuit of opportunities in sectors that depend on the exchange of classified information and assets.

Canada currently has international bilateral security instruments in place with:

• Australia
• Belgium
• Brazil
• Bulgaria
• Chile
• Denmark
• the European Space Agency
• European Union institutions
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Israel
• Italy
• Latvia
• the Netherlands
• New Zealand
• the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
• Norway
• Singapore
• South Africa
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• the United Kingdom
• the United States

This security instrument will improve industrial cooperation between Canada and Albania with respect to the protection of both Canadian protected and classified information and Albanian classified information. It will also provide opportunities for Canadian industry to participate in Albania’s government contracts, programs and projects involving classified information.

How the instruments work

Bilateral security instruments set out a mutual understanding and commitment with respect to the protection of classified information and assets when in foreign custody. For example, they:

• provide assurances regarding personnel and organizational security clearances
• outline the processes for requesting a visit to a classified facility in another country
• create rules for document transfer and for the disposal or return of classified information
• provide assurances against third-party disclosure
• outline the processes for reporting and investigating security breaches

Benefits to Canada and Canadian companies

Bilateral security instruments allow Canadian industry to gain access to new markets. Without a security instrument in place, Canadian suppliers may not be able to access potential foreign markets because they are unable to bid on procurement opportunities involving classified information.

They contribute to the Government of Canada priorities of strengthening relationships with allies and promoting Canadian economic prosperity. This safeguards national security interests by allowing trade, and by deepening business relationships with foreign countries and international organizations in the sectors that depend on the exchange of classified information and assets.

This includes the following sectors:

• defence and security
• aerospace
• maritime
• nuclear
• space

Bilateral security instruments also support the modernization of procurement practices to reflect and accommodate the globalization of markets, to increase the diversity of bidders on government contracts involving sensitive information, and to provide more effective delivery of programs and services.

Canadian organizations considering contracting or subcontracting with a foreign government or with an international organization or business can learn more about international contract security requirements.