Moreover, our statistics have been integrated into the euro area accounts, which provide an overall picture of the euro area economy. The next milestone is the release of the new investment funds statistics, today. For some years, the ECB has already published un-harmonised and partly estimated euro area investment fund statistics, at a quarterly frequency. Today we will present, for the first time, harmonised investment fund statistics that cover all investment funds resident in the euro area. This includes data for the main fund types such as bond, equity or mixed funds, but also other types of funds, including hedge funds. Our new dataset contains much more detailed breakdowns both on the assets held and liabilities issued by investment funds. The data provide, for example, detailed information on the residency and sector of the issuers of securities and shares held by the funds. New information is available, as well, on the residency of the holders of the shares issued by euro area investment funds. In addition to the detailed quarterly information, the ECB now also publishes key monthly information on the outstanding amounts and net sales of shares issued by the funds. A further important improvement concerns the timeliness of the publication of these statistics: as from 2010, the statistics will become available after one-and-a-half months (compared to 3-and-a-half months in the past). There are many reasons why high quality statistics on euro area investment funds are important for the ECB’s monetary and financial analysis.

The implementation of this system reduces costs and the necessary time in managing cash in banks' windows, unlike the payments previously conducted in cash desks with high commissions applied on the processing between corresponding banks. Also, the use of electronic payments have recorded a positive increase. Based on the preliminary calculations by the Bank of Albania, in 2022, the Albanian citizens have conducted averagely 16 electronic payments in a year, thus considerably exceeding the 12 payments target. Absolutely, these achievements reflect the measures taken by the banking system through significantly expanding the necessary infrastructure and services in this regard. In view of these developments, the same intensity is needed for the realisation of projects, as: open banking; instant payment, and the transition to ISO 20022 communication standards, which will digitalise and modernise the overall market and will create potentials in the framework of the integration process with the European Union markets. Last but not least, we should further intensify and enhance collaboration in the framework of the National Financial Education Strategy, which is a crucial mechanism for maximising the expected effects and the implemented measures so far in view of financial digitalisation and inclusion. *** Dear banking system executives, Notwithstanding the challenges and hardships caused by the soaring inflation during this year, forecasts for the Albanian economic growth remain positive. Nevertheless, tackling this challenges needs a coordinated and carefully parametrised response, by the monetary policy instruments coupled with an effective and visionary collaboration of all market actors. Let my brief some challenges foreseen for 2023.