Gent Sejko: Welcome remarks - 17th SEE Economic Research
Workshop
Welcome remarks by Mr Gent Sejko, Governor of the Bank of Albania, at the 17th SEE
Economic Research Workshop, Tirana, 4 December 2023.
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Dear guests from academia and central banks,
Dear researchers and participants,
It is a great pleasure to welcome you in this annual scientific activity, already turning
into a solid platform for sharing and discussing key research works on central banking
topics.
I am delighted to see many international researchers, from academia and the central
banking community joining us at the Bank of Albania's Research Workshop. Your
presence signifies an appreciation for the quality of research and policy discussions we
foster here at the Bank of Albania. Your discussions and insights, enrich significantly
our research work.
The program of the 17th Research Workshop aligns notably with the current challenges
and issues that the central banking community is encountering globally. This year's
topics - not only cover traditional areas of central bank interest, like inflation, monetary
policy, and financial stability- but also delve into pressing issues such as: climate
change, digitalization, household finances and financial inclusion.
The evolution of our workshop's agenda reflects the dynamic nature of the challenges
we face. Our societies, economies, and financial systems are under strain from various
sources: wars, heightened geopolitical tensions, demographic shifts, the escalation of
extreme climate events, artificial intelligence and digitalization of finance and money.
These challenges have triggered negative consequences on production and distribution
chains, have affected labour markets, and have driven to structural changes, which in
turn have impacted productivity, costs, price stability, as well as the overall
macroeconomic and financial stability.
In Albania, these events are reshaping the economy's orientation and sectoral focus,
boosting growth in some areas, which are gradually turning dominant compared to
certain traditional sectors. This transition has resulted in: an accelerated economic
activity; improved foreign sector positioning; and enhanced sustainability. However, this
transition also pressures labour markets, which have been already affected by
emigration. These changes ripple through the economy, by unsettling established
equilibriums and prompting adjustments in nominal indicators. All these conclusions are
underpinned by a thorough research, which employs the most relevant data and
research methodologies.
Beyond these difficulties, central banks have yet to discover how to normalize the
monetary policy and their balance sheets, in line with pre-crisis positions, without
jeopardizing both the economic growth and financial stability.
Many central banks have already starting to understand that their objectives and the
long- run sustainability of their policies encompasses multiple dimensions, extending
beyond mere price stability to align with the sustainable development goals. The role of
the central bank in achieving these goals - whether directly or indirectly, through
monetary policy and financial regulation, financial education and inclusion - is more vital
than ever, for the society, as well as for the central bank itself and the success of its
policies.
We have embarked on two major strategies, which support the achievement of the
sustainable growth objectives: the climate strategy and the financial education and
inclusion strategy - in addition to developing a new focus, the one on digitalization.
These initiatives are based and informed by the extensive scientific research taking
place at the Bank of Albania on areas covering climate change, financial education and
inclusion of households and the private sector. The advent of digitalization is
fundamentally altering economic and financial landscapes, changing public perceptions
and behaviours towards monetary and financial decisions. This thorough transition
demands new approaches of analyses, decision making and communication with the
public, especially in the face of unknowns brought about by emerging technologies.
Thus, I encourage you to scrutinize your studies on these critical issues.
As we look into these complex and dynamic conditions in economy and finance, we
must remember the lessons from history, particularly Albania's economic and monetary
journey. As we approach the centenary of the Bank of Albania and central banking
foundation in Albania, we must delve into this rich history to enrich our modern
understanding about the economy and finance, in turn to tailor global knowledge to the
specific context of Albania. This historical perspective is crucial in understanding the
cycles and evolutions of the economy, reminding us of the rationale and main reasons
which have underpinned our fundamental choices, regarding the monetary and financial
regimes. It helps us to better understand what stands behind the choice of free floating
exchange rate regime, liberalization of trade and capital controls, the independent
monetary policy and price stability objectives, and how they are relevant under the
current challenges.
Concluding, I urge our researchers to adhere to principles of unbiased analysis,
scientific rigor, and clear recommendations. This is a challenging task, but I am
confident in our collective ability to uphold these standards. The research at the Bank of
Albania has already gained credibility with policymakers and respect from academia, as
evidenced by the international participation in this event. However, we must also ensure
that our research communicates effectively with the broader economy, guiding
responsible decision-making across the private sector and households.
I strongly encourage you to extend your influence beyond the confines of the bank,
engaging with academia and various interest groups to foster the continuous
communication with the economy. This engagement will ensure that our policymaking is
better understood and gains an ever increasing public support.
I wish you a very productive discussion!