The Governor of the Bank of Albania, Mr. Gent Sejko, held a meeting with Ms. Randi Davis, Permanent Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Albania. During the meeting, economic developments in the country, initiatives undertaken by the Bank of Albania and opportunities for further strengthening cooperation between the two institutions were discussed.
At the start of the meeting, Ms. Randi Davis congratulated the Bank of Albania for its work in maintaining the country's macroeconomic and financial stability.
Governor Sejko, for his part, presented an overview of the latest economic and financial developments in the country, emphasizing that maintaining price and financial stability remains at the heart of the Bank of Albania's activities. He also assessed cooperation with international partners as important for addressing the new challenges facing the economy.
The UNDP representative further noted that a number of initiatives undertaken by the Bank of Albania in recent years align with the priorities of UNDP development projects in Albania. In particular, she highlighted the importance of cooperation in areas related to sustainability, financial inclusion and climate change adaptation.
In this context, Governor Sejko focused on the work of the Bank of Albania on integrating environmental and climate factors into the financial sector. He emphasized that addressing the risks related to climate change and promoting green finance are increasingly important for the sustainability of the financial system.
For her part, Ms. Davis praised the efforts of the Bank of Albania in this regard and expressed UNDP's willingness to support initiatives that contribute to increasing the awareness and capacities of financial sector actors on climate and environmental issues.
Another important topic of discussion was financial and digital education. Governor Sejko emphasized that increasing the financial literacy of the public is an important element for strengthening financial inclusion and the safe use of financial services. He presented the programs and activities of the Bank of Albania in this area, as well as initiatives for the development of payment systems and strengthening cybersecurity.
The UNDP representative appreciated these initiatives and highlighted the organization's work in supporting the growth of financial literacy among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Albania. She considered this an area with particular potential for sharing experiences and developing joint initiatives, particularly in terms of improving access to finance and strengthening the capacities of SMEs.
The meeting also discussed Albania's European integration process. Governor Sejko underlined that integration into the European Union is a strategic priority for the country, while the UNDP representative stressed the importance of supporting institutional reforms and aligning policies with European standards.
In conclusion, both parties expressed their willingness to continue and strengthen cooperation in areas of common interest, especially in terms of green finance, financial and digital education, the development of payment systems, supporting SMEs, and addressing challenges related to sustainable development.
Further cooperation between the Bank of Albania and UNDP aims to contribute to strengthening the country's institutional and financial capacities, as well as supporting sustainable, inclusive and European integration-oriented economic development.
