The Bank of Albania published remarks by Second Deputy Governor Natasha Ahmetaj from a high-level Economic Forum on Corridor VIII in Tirana, presenting the corridor as a practical enabler of European integration and regional economic development and arguing that macroeconomic stability is a prerequisite for delivering major infrastructure projects. Ahmetaj highlighted potential gains for Albania from lower trade costs, improved export competitiveness, and a stronger role for the Port of Durrës as a transit and logistics hub, alongside effects on diversification, employment, and regional convergence. She also pointed to the banking system’s capitalisation, liquidity and EU-aligned regulatory foundations, while noting that large infrastructure projects require cooperation with international partners and blended financing. The remarks also set out the central bank’s ongoing EU-approximation work, including stronger prudential mechanisms and payment-system modernisation, and linked the push toward inclusion in SEPA to faster and lower-cost euro-area transactions that could support trade and financial exchanges associated with Corridor VIII.
Bank of Albania 2026-02-18
Bank of Albania’s Second Deputy Governor Ahmetaj frames Corridor VIII as a driver of regional growth and SEPA payments integration
Bank of Albania's Second Deputy Governor Natasha Ahmetaj highlighted Corridor VIII's role in European integration and regional economic development at a Tirana Economic Forum. She noted Albania's potential benefits from reduced trade costs, enhanced export competitiveness, and the Port of Durrës's strategic importance. Ahmetaj also discussed the banking system's EU-aligned regulatory framework and the need for international cooperation and blended financing for large infrastructure projects.