The Bank of Albania published a recap of Governor Gent Sejko’s participation in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C., where he held bilateral discussions on Albania’s macroeconomic and financial developments and priorities for continued cooperation. The programme included engagement with IMF, World Bank and IFC counterparts, as well as regional discussions on payments integration initiatives. The meetings covered Albania’s economic performance, with the governor describing continued positive activity supported by employment and wage growth, low inflation and a gradual return towards the inflation target during 2026. He highlighted improvements in the banking sector’s financial health, including stability, high liquidity, low interest rates and sustained growth in private-sector credit, while noting external risks linked to geopolitical developments and energy price volatility. IMF technical assistance was discussed in relation to a new draft law for the Bank of Albania and alignment with the European Union acquis, and World Bank and IFC exchanges addressed financial-sector projects, including modernisation of the payments system and alignment with European standards; IMF and World Bank participants also referenced Moody’s “Ba3” rating with a stable outlook. Governor Sejko also took part in a regional roundtable on progress in implementing SEPA and the TIPS Clone project and joined a closed-door meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors from Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, where he emphasised vigilance in safeguarding price stability and the importance of international policy coordination.
Bank of Albania 2026-04-19
Bank of Albania reviews Albania’s outlook and advances cooperation on central bank law reform and payments integration at the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings
The Bank of Albania reported on Governor Gent Sejko’s participation in the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings, where he discussed Albania’s macroeconomic performance, banking sector conditions and priorities for continued cooperation with the IMF, World Bank and IFC. Discussions covered IMF technical assistance on a new draft law for the Bank of Albania and alignment with the EU acquis, financial-sector projects including payments system modernisation and European standards, and regional initiatives such as SEPA implementation and the TIPS Clone project.