The Bank of Albania published Governor Gent Sejko’s address to the International Conference on Economy, Business, Innovation, and Technology (ICEBIT 2025), outlining how digital transformation is shaping the central bank’s priorities for the financial system and the wider economy. He flagged Albania’s integration into the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), effective 7 October 2025, as a key milestone for improving the speed, cost and security of payments across Europe. The speech described ongoing work with international partners to modernise national payment systems to enable instant and secure payments 24/7, expand electronic payments, reduce reliance on cash, and support competition and innovation in the financial market. It also linked innovation to core central banking functions, including the use of advanced models for inflation forecasting, data analytics for financial stability risk assessment, digitalised statistics and data collection processes, and new public communication tools to strengthen transparency, alongside a call for deeper cooperation with universities on research, training and capacity-building.
Bank of Albania 2025-12-05
Bank of Albania Governor Sejko highlights SEPA integration and plans for instant 24/7 payments in ICEBIT 2025 address
Governor Gent Sejko of the Bank of Albania addressed ICEBIT 2025, emphasizing digital transformation as a central bank priority and Albania's integration into the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) as a key milestone. The speech highlighted modernizing national payment systems for instant, secure payments, expanding electronic payments, and fostering competition and innovation. It also linked innovation to central banking functions, including advanced inflation forecasting, data analytics, and enhanced public communication tools.