our mediumterm steering and commitment to adopting the inflation targeting regime, making up an important link of its successful adoption. concluding my theoretical discussion of this change, i would like to underline that our longterm commitment to keeping our foreign reserve at optimal levels to cope with the shocks albania may be faced with remains an unquestionable objective of our monetary policy. in an institutional aspect, i would like to note that such a move does not only attest to the level of maturity of our interbank market. it also crowns our constant efforts in achieving its utmost efficient management. in this context, the bank of albania has made utmost efforts to develop liquidity forecast models, to dampen the impact of fiscal flows into the money markets and to develop optimal procedures and modalities of interbank market interventions. i do strongly believe that our efforts will persist in the future as well, enabling a smooth shift of the operational target and optimal functioning of their new form. interbank market development dear colleagues, bank of albania ’ s role in promoting the interbank market is indisputable. however, we are fully aware that the development of this market mostly reflects the results of the banking system ’ s own development and efforts. therefore, the bank of albania requires your utmost attention in this regard. more precisely, in our discussion today we would like to have your opinion on the three steps we consider will boost the development of the interbank market. first, setting the prime rates in the functioning of commercial banks. these rates can and should serve as a guide to setting prices on banking products, both on the assets and liabilities ’ side. second, the functioning of the collateralized market through repo or reverse repo contracts. although in its classical concept the interbank market is an uncollateralized market, its enhancement with the abovementioned instruments would open the way to its thorough development, ensuring a more efficient distribution of liquidity among the market operators. third, banks can and should be active in quoting the liquidity in the albanian lek, keeping the same stance as in the foreign exchange market. the constant quotation will encourage a more active liquidity management and it will enable its continuous price setting. dear bank managers, the bank of albania considers the development of the interbank and financial market as a process that requires our constant commitment but which provides tangible benefits to all of us. i invite you now to an open and fruitful discussion to share our opinions on the right

##respective of their location, have access to adequate and timely financing, we will be better positioned to address the challenges of sustainability and resilience in agriculture. traditional lending practices have certain limitations in catering to the needs of the agricultural sector. agriculture is inherently seasonal, and returns are often delayed or reduced. innovative financial solutions are necessary - ones that are flexible and tailored 3 / 6 bis - central bankers'speeches to the specific needs of farmers. this coupled with crop insurance products that cover weather - related risks can help mitigate the uncertainties farmers face. additionally, blended finance models - where public funds are used to leverage private investmentscan be instrumental in providing the necessary capital for sustainable transitions. this would not only mobilise resources from multiple sources but also distribute the risks and returns more equitably. in this context, i would like to highlight five solutions which could go a long way in addressing the issue of financing sustainable agriculture. role of collectives farmer producer organisations or fpos have emerged as a crucial mechanism for addressing the specific challenges faced by small and marginal farmers. their growth has been significant, with over 24, 000 farmer producer companies ( fpcs ) formed by march 31, 20236. these organisations are instrumental in scaling up the adoption of sustainable farming technologies developed by research institutions. by aggregating farmers, fpos enhance their bargaining power as well as improve their access to technology and increase market opportunities for their output. to support financing to these organisations, rbi regulations provide that loans to fpos engaged in agriculture and allied activities, up to an aggregate limit of 2 crore per entity, qualify as priority sector lending. if fpos engage in farming with assured marketing of their produce at predetermined prices, loans of up to 5 crore qualify as psl. value chain financing the value chain financing model integrates various stakeholders - farmers, aggregators, traders, processors, and financial institutions - into a coordinated system that improves efficiency across the agricultural process. with changing consumer preferences towards branded, well - packed, safe, and healthy food, there is a need for increased focus on structured agriculture value chains and their financing. for financial institutions, access to various participants in the value chain offers additional business opportunities. warehouse financing agricultural price volatility is a recurring challenge in india, often forcing farmers to sell their produce at lower prices during peak harvest due to immediate financial needs. warehouse receipt financing allows farmers to store their produce in warehouses, delaying the sale until