TIRANA, March 18 – Bank of Albania Governor Gent Sejko met World Bank Regional Director for the Western Balkans Xiaoqing Yu and Regional Manager Martha Licetti. He focused on price stability and financial sector development.

The meeting continued ongoing cooperation between the Bank of Albania and the World Bank. Both sides aim to strengthen financial stability and advance the financial sector.

Sejko highlighted World Bank support for Albania. He pointed to technical assistance and projects that improve the regulatory framework, strengthen stability, and develop financial markets.

He then presented recent economic developments. He said the Albanian economy shows a positive trajectory. Key indicators of economic, monetary, and financial stability also remain strong.

However, he stressed that global uncertainty remains high. He said monetary policy decisions will rely on the latest economic and financial data.

In this context, Sejko stated that Bank of Albania decisions aim to preserve price stability. He added that these decisions align with fiscal policy and exchange rate developments.

Both sides then discussed reform priorities in the financial sector. They reviewed potential projects under the Development Policy Lending (DPL) program for 2026–2027.

They also addressed the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP). They exchanged views on expectations and priorities linked to this process, which aims to strengthen sector resilience.

At the same time, discussions covered progress in financial stability and supervisory frameworks. They also reviewed regulatory alignment with European Union standards, including support from the FINSAC program.

Finally, they discussed payment system modernization and digitalization. They addressed Albania’s integration into SEPA and alignment with EU acquis. They also reviewed next steps for instant payments and potential World Bank technical support.

Both sides closed the meeting by reaffirming close cooperation. They committed to support reforms that strengthen the financial sector and advance European integration.

/a.p./