TIRANA, July 13 /ATA/ The Governor of the Bank of Albania, Gent Sejko, welcomed an official delegation from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), headed by Hannes Takacs, the bank’s newly appointed Resident Representative in Albania. The delegation also included Ekaterina Solovova and other representatives from both institutions.
Governor Sejko presented an overview of the latest economic and financial developments in Albania. He noted that, based on the Bank of Albania’s projections, the country’s economy is expected to maintain solid growth momentum in the coming period.
Governor Sejko emphasized that the prudent and consistent monetary policy pursued by the Bank of Albania has played a key role in preserving macroeconomic stability, while creating favourable financial conditions for the sustainable development of the economy.
Regarding the banking sector, Sejko highlighted that the system remains stable, with strong indicators of capitalization, liquidity, and profitability.
He added that the non-performing loan ratio, currently at 3.7%, represents the lowest level recorded since 2008.
According to the Governor, this achievement reflects the impact of structural reforms undertaken over the past decade, improvements in the banking sector’s financial discipline, as well as the effectiveness of the Bank of Albania’s regulatory and supervisory framework.
Furthermore, Sejko praised Albania’s strong relationship with the EBRD and thanked the institution for its continued support in implementing projects of strategic importance to the country’s economic and financial development.
He highlighted in particular the cooperation in developing the regulatory framework for managing risks associated with climate change, as well as the technical assistance provided for the development of the money market in line with international standards.
He also highlighted the EBRD’s contribution to the Bank of Albania’s self-assessment process of its regulatory and supervisory framework in relation to European Union standards, as well as the joint efforts to implement the WE Finance Code initiative. This initiative seeks to enhance access to finance for women entrepreneurs and further strengthen the financing ecosystem for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.
Meanwhile, EBRD representatives expressed their appreciation for the strong partnership with the Bank of Albania and the progress achieved through their joint initiatives. They reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to further deepening cooperation in additional areas of shared interest.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Hannes Takacs emphasized that the EBRD will continue to serve as a strategic partner for Albania, supporting the development of key sectors of the economy. He highlighted the bank’s focus on enhancing the competitiveness of Albanian businesses, advancing the transition towards a green economy, accelerating digitalization, and supporting entrepreneurship, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises.
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