PRESS RELEASE
Mr. Stefan Ingves, Governor of the Sveriges Riksbank, pays an official visit to the Bank of Albania

On the invitation of Mr. Ardian Fullani, Governor of the Bank of Albania, on 23 April 2014, Mr. Stefan Ingves, Governor of the Sveriges Riksbank, paid an official visit to the Bank of Albania.  

During the official visit, Mr. Ingves met with heads of departments at the Bank of Albania and discussed the latest economic developments in Albania, with special focus on the Albanian banking sector. Mr. Ardian Fullani, Governor of the Bank of Albania, presented Governor Ingves with the measures taken by the Bank of Albania to safeguard financial stability in the country. Governor Fullani highlighted the importance of the latest legal amendments made by the Bank of Albania, which aim at lowering the level of non-performing loans and boosting lending.Governor Ingves commended Bank of Albania's work towards safeguarding the country's financial stability.

Bilateral discussions focused also on the important contribution of the Bank of Albania to Albania's EU integration process through the approximation of the regulatory framework and work practices with EU Directives. In this context, the Bank of Albania has enhanced its cooperation with euro area central banks. Bank of Albania's membership in Vienna Initiative 2.0 Steering Committee marks an important step in this regard. Governor Fullani noted that Albania's presence in this Steering Committee also voices the interests of other non-EU Member States.

At the end of the meeting, the attendees stated the importance of a continued deep cooperation between the two institutions.