Ardian Fullani: Overview of Albania’s latest economic and financial developments Speech by Mr Ardian Fullani, Governor of the Bank of Albania, on the Monetary Policy Decision-Making of the Bank of Albania’s Supervisory Council, Tirana, 30 January 2013. *  *  *  Today, on 30 January 2013, the Bank of Albania’s Supervisory Council reviewed and approved the biannual Monetary Policy Statement. Based on the latest monetary and economic developments in Albania, and following the discussions on their future outlook, the Bank of Albania’s Supervisory Council decided to lower the key interest rate by 0.25 percentage points. After this decision, the one-week repurchase agreement rate drops to new record-low level of 3.75%. The Supervisory Council deems that further easing of monetary conditions will help in meeting the inflation target in the medium term. Let me now proceed with an overview of economic and monetary developments, and key issues discussed at today’s meeting. * * * The Albanian economy improved slightly in the seconds half of 2012. This performance was driven by a fuller reflection of monetary stimulus and improved external economic and financial environment. However, the economic activity remains below potential and the growth resources appear unstable. Production growth is not reflected in decreasing the overall uncertainties, which contain private investments and consumption, and lead to downward credit demand and supply. The banking system has sound and liquid balance sheets but it remains highly prudent in terms of financing long-term investments. These tendencies will condition the economic developments over the period ahead.

2  BIS central bankers’ speeches  The so-far economic activity performance and projections for 2013 support the outlook for positive economic growth close to the previous year’s figure. Foreign demand is expected to contribute positively to Albania’s economic growth, but this contribution is expected to be lower due to unfavourable developments in trading partner countries and relatively low diversification of Albanian exports. Private demand is also expected to be positive, taking advantage of monetary stimulus growth and domestic savings utilization. Finally, the public sector is also expected to provide a positive stimulus. Despite the positive growth, the economic activity in Albania is expected to remain below its potential during the current year and the demand-side inflationary pressures are expected to remain low during this time horizon. The Bank of Albania deems that with a 90% probability, the annual inflation as to four quarters ahead is forecasted to fluctuate within the 0.8 – 3.8% band. Low annual inflation rates and forecast for their continuation over the monetary policy time horizon dictate the maintaining and strengthening of the stimulating monetary policy over the next four quarters. * * * Considering the information summarised above, the Supervisory Council deems that consumer price pressures in Albania remain weak along the monetary policy time horizon and have shifted downward during the last months. Concluding, the Supervisory Council decided to lower the key interest rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 3.75%. This decision aims to create appropriate monetary conditions to meet the medium-term inflation target.