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. * * * 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. 1 / 3 bis - central bankers'speeches 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 jeopa

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. 2 / 3 bis - central bankers'speeches i wish you a very productive discussion! 3 / 3 bis - central bankers'speeches