PRESS RELEASE
Governor Sejko: Succeeding Chair of the CEF Governing Board, Ljubljana, Slovenia

On 8 June 2022, the Governor of the Bank of Albania, Mr Gent Sejko, attended the recent Annual Meeting of the Governing Board of the Centre of Excellence in Finance (CEF) held in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Participation of Governor Sejko in the meeting was particularly important this year, as Slovenia handed over the Chairing of the CEF Governing Board to Albania. The Governor of the Bank of Albania, Mr Gent Sejko, is the newly appointed Chair of the CEF Governing Board for the period 2022 - 2023.

The Centre of Excellence in Finance (CEF) is an international organization based in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and serves as a knowledge hub for the region. The CEF was established in January 2001 by the Slovenian Government at the initiative of the Slovenian Ministry of Finance and in close cooperation with other ministries of finance of South East Europe countries.

The mission of the CEF is promoting knowledge on international standards and best practices in public financial management, and central banking, by offering tailor-made trainings; encouraging experiences and researches sharing; and offering technical assistance to countries, as: Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Moldavia, Monte Negro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Albania and Turkey.

The Governing Board is the key decision - making body of the CEF. Members of the Board comprise ministers of finance and governors of central banks from the CEF members.

In the recent meeting of the Board, Governor Sejko was appointed as the new Chair of this body. He stated the appreciation and commitment to devotedly steer in a transparent manner the activity of the Board, as well as his willingness to successfully fulfil all the obligations arising from this term. 

The Governor said that the so far achievements, the challenges we currently face and the uncertainties related to the pandemic and Ukraine war, trigger many ambiguities in the horizon. This fact poses the need for a continuous monitoring and a robust decision-making process of this Board. Mr Sejko highlighted that the responsibility in fulfilling this mission is further enhanced in the view of the fact that Albania is one of the founding countries of the CEF, meanwhile the institution the Bank of Albania, used to be one of the most active partners, throughout the two decades of the CEF existence.

“I am committed to do my best, over the course of my term as the Chair of the Governing Board, to further perfecting the mission of the CEF as a knowledge hub for South East Europe through newly contemporary, interactive and innovative practices” - concluded the Governor.

During his stay in Ljubljana, Governor Sejko attended also the Forum organised by the CEF, on: “Strong Institutions Deliver on Their Mandate”.

Discussions in this Forum addressed the systematic knowledge management and enhancement of institutional capacities, aimed at their transforming as active learning organisations and approximating their standards with those of the European Union. In his remarks, the Governor emphasised the importance of public institutions’ investments in this regard. In this view, focus on the human capital of the institution has a crucial role, next the institutional knowledge management, while a third pillar should be the transformation of public institutions as learning organisations, where employees in a spirit of team, reshape their thinking and capacities.

Mr Sejko said that the CEF remains an important partner in supporting and providing a thoroughly platform to transform our societies through knowledge hubs. The continuous improvement of our institutions, contribute to the establishment of successful and comprehensive societies across our region.

Last, Governor Sejko thanked the CEF and stated his confidence that Albania, and particularly the Bank of Albania, will continue to further deepen the relationships with this institution while benefiting from the opportunities this collaboration offers.