TIRANA, Sept. 10 /ATA/ – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is ready to support financing for small businesses in Albania under a programme developed by the Bank of Albania, the central bank said on Thursday.
The issue was discussed at a meeting in Tirana between Bank of Albania Governor Gent Sejko and Francis Malige, EBRD Managing Director for Financial Institutions.
The meeting was also attended by Grzegorz Zielinski, EBRD Managing Director for Southeast Europe; Ekaterina Solovova, EBRD Head of Montenegro; and Hannes Takacs, Head of the EBRD office in Albania.
The talks followed the launch in Albania of the “We Finance Code” initiative, organised jointly by the Bank of Albania and the EBRD.
The two sides discussed recent developments in Albania’s banking sector, cooperation between the central bank and the EBRD, and the role of the financial system in supporting economic development and the country’s EU integration process.
Particular attention was given to the Bank of Albania’s programme to finance micro and small businesses, aimed at improving their access to funding and supporting investment and business activity. EBRD representatives welcomed the programme and said the bank was ready to support the central bank’s initiative and explore concrete opportunities for cooperation in its implementation.
The meeting also covered support for Albania’s Deposit Insurance Agency and the importance of continuously strengthening financial safety mechanisms. The parties welcomed EBRD cooperation and assistance in strengthening institutional capacity and aligning with international and European best practices.
Sejko said EU integration remained a strategic priority for the development of Albania’s financial sector, calling for continued reforms, regulatory alignment and higher standards in the functioning of financial markets.
Malige welcomed the cooperation with the Bank of Albania and progress in the country’s banking sector, expressing the EBRD’s readiness to continue supporting reforms and initiatives aimed at developing the financial sector and financing the real economy.
Sejko and Malige reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation, particularly in areas related to European financial integration, financial stability and improved access to financing for Albanian businesses.
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