overall population at large. protection of the value of your savings is our constant commitment. allow me to briefly treat some issues i mentioned above : 1. lending to economy last week i had a meeting with the banking sector directors, where we discussed about developments and perspectives of lending to economy. it was agreed by all that there is much space in this direction, while banks requested more specific information in terms of economy sectors, where investment is made and is projected to be made. of course, this information would assist banks in the process of dealing with the requirements and at the same time would assist them even in projecting the future of their business. viewed from the above context, i would strongly encourage you to address banks more and more so to absorb their financial funds. but, at the same time, more transparency, more clarity is needed in the relationships you have and will have with the banking business for being successful. 1 / 3 2. credit information bureau the establishment of credit information bureau is a program initiated by albanian bank association, for the accomplishment of which much work and institutional coordination is needed between actors of interest, such as business, banks, public institutions and the bank of albania. the credit information bureau is expected to facilitate not only the information problems existing between banks and businesses, but also the interbank information that is so much important from the viewpoint of using the scale economies. the bank of albania will facilitate the conditions for the accomplishment of this project. 3. automated electronic clearing house system after the successful implementation of the real time gross settlement system, the bank of albania has recently inaugurated the initiation for implementing a very important project related to the automated electronic clearing house system. the operation of this new system will lead to a significant acceleration of payments for the banks ’ customers, and due to the absence of this element businesses remained away from banks. i would like to use this opportunity to make businesses aware of the advantages the operation of this system provides, since both the systems will contribute, among others, in reaching international standards of atm and pos per number of population. the challenge for the banking system and businesses, as well as for the bank of albania, remains the public encouragement in using them. 4. cash reduction in the economy some of the above - mentioned steps imply and contribute directly and indirectly in the reduction of cash economy. but the bank of albania plans to undertake further steps in this respect, in collaboration with other important institutions like the ministry of finance, ministry of economy. in this context, first step

also as stations for the gathering of information on the economic and financial activity of the district, preceding the analyses and studies that will serve not only to the design of a clear macroeconomic policy but also to the modernization of elements for the transmission of this policy from the higher authority to the lower authority and vice versa. on the other hand, do not forget that you will have in exchange the opportunity to conduct professional analyses regarding the branch where you perform your activity, with accurate expectations about markets, businesses and consumer demand. therefore, even with your credit provider, the banking business will be more confident in making decisions and finding potential clients. i would like to emphasize that the invitation i address to you today is very sincere, real, away from propagandistic clishes. to sum up, i would like to confirm that these communication relations which i appeal for today would resist the time only if they would rely on sincerity, confidence and reciprocity. i do guarantee that. 3 / 3