Speaking at the conference “Turning Environmental, Social and Governance Standards into Business Value – Competitiveness and Sustainable Growth in Albania–Kosovo”, Ahmetaj said the transition to a more sustainable economy requires businesses, the banking sector and institutions to adapt to new European requirements.

“For Albanian businesses, adapting to these new requirements means, among other things, assessing climate impacts and risks, aligning with European regulatory requirements, and making the necessary investments to shift towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly business models,” she said.

Ahmetaj said banks will be key to financing Albania’s transition to a more sustainable economy, as they adapt to new reporting and risk-management requirements and channel capital towards sustainable development projects.

“It is important to establish a common language between banks and businesses so that requirements for information, reporting and risk assessment are understood and translated into concrete opportunities,” Ahmetaj said.

A key element of sustainable finance is the Green Taxonomy, which sets criteria for identifying economic activities that contribute to environmental objectives and directs investment towards sustainable projects.

Ahmetaj said the Bank of Albania, in cooperation with the European Investment Bank, is working to develop Albania’s Green Taxonomy based on European standards.

She highlighted the importance of reliable and transparent data, which would enable banks and investors to better assess the risks and opportunities associated with the green transition.

Ahmetaj said that, amid Albania’s EU integration process, ESG standards should not be viewed solely as a regulatory requirement but also as an opportunity for Albanian businesses to boost competitiveness, expand access to finance and integrate more effectively into European value chains.

The conference was organised by the Albanian ESG Network, AmCham Albania and AmCham Kosovo, with the participation of representatives from public institutions, the financial sector, businesses, international organisations and academia.

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