PRESS RELEASE
Governor Sejko receives the newly appointed EBRD Resident Representative in Albania, Mr Hannes Takacs

On 13 July 2026, the Governor of the Bank of Albania, Mr Gent Sejko, received, in an official meeting, a delegation from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), led by Mr Hannes Takacs, the newly appointed EBRD Resident Representative in Albania. Mr Takács was accompanied by Ms Ekaterina Solovova and other representatives of the EBRD and the Bank of Albania.

Governor Sejko briefed the EBRD representatives on the latest economic and financial developments in Albania. He noted that the Bank of Albania's projections point to solid economic growth over the coming period.

The Governor underscored that the prudent and consistent monetary policy pursued by the Bank of Albania has played a key role in safeguarding macroeconomic stability, by creating favourable financial conditions that support sustainable economic growth.

Mr Sejko highlighted that the Albanian banking sector remains sound and resilient, supported by strong capitalisation, ample liquidity, and robust profitability indicators. He also noted that the non-performing loan ratio, at 3.7%, has declined to its lowest level since 2008.

The Governor underlined that this achievement reflects the positive impact of the structural reforms implemented over the years, the strengthening of financial discipline across the banking sector, and the effectiveness of the Bank of Albania's regulatory and supervisory framework.

Governor Sejko commended the longstanding and constructive partnership between Albania and the EBRD, thanking the institution for its continued support in implementing projects of strategic importance to the country's economic and financial development.

In particular, the Governor underscored the close cooperation in strengthening the regulatory framework for climate-related financial risk management, as well as the technical assistance provided for the development of the money market in line with international standards. The Governor also commended the EBRD's support in the Bank of Albania's self-assessment of the alignment of its regulatory and supervisory framework with European Union standards, as well as its cooperation in implementing the WE Finance Code initiative, designed to increase funding for women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (WMSMEs).

The EBRD representatives expressed their appreciation for the close collaboration with the Bank of Albania and acknowledged the positive results achieved through the joint projects. They reaffirmed the EBRD's commitment to further strengthening and expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr Hannes Takacs emphasised that the EBRD will continue to be a strategic partner for Albania, supporting the development of key economic sectors and contributing to the enhancement of business competitiveness, the transition towards a green economy, the acceleration of digitalisation, and the promotion of entrepreneurship, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises.