Speaking at a scientific conference marking the centenary, the government head highlighted the central bank’s journey and its integration into international financial institutions.

He noted that the Bank of Albania is one of the few national institutions meeting high standards of independence and governance.

Rama recalled the efforts of Albania’s founding father, Ismail Qemali, in 1913 to establish the bank, describing it as “a second declaration of independence, this time for economic sovereignty.”

The Prime Minister reviewed the historical role of central banks in Europe, emphasizing that the Bank of Albania today operates in a very different global and domestic environment.

He said that after the pandemic and the war in Europe, monetary policy is no longer measured only by base interest rates but also by expectations for economic stabilization.

“This requires transparency, creativity, courage, vigilance and calm in the face of increasingly frequent shocks to our global village,” Rama said.

Rama added that the central bank faces a dual challenge: maintaining its traditional functions while looking ahead to future developments, including digitalization, artificial intelligence, instant payments, digital banking, and cryptocurrencies.

“These innovations present extraordinary opportunities as well as challenges,” he said, urging that they be integrated thoughtfully into traditional economic thinking.

/a.f/u.sh/