The Bank of Albania published an account of Governor Gent Sejko’s meeting with European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Managing Director for Financial Institutions Francis Malige, focused on potential cooperation in financing micro and small businesses and aligning Albania’s banking framework with European Union standards. The EBRD expressed readiness to support the central bank’s business financing program and explore practical forms of cooperation in its implementation, extending the Bank of Albania’s ongoing efforts to improve smaller firms’ access to credit. The discussions also covered the equivalence of Albania’s banking regulation and supervision with the EU framework, support for the Deposit Insurance Agency and implementation of the We Finance Code to expand financing for women led enterprises. Sejko described the banking sector as well capitalized, liquid and stable, while stressing that further credit growth should preserve portfolio quality and appropriate risk management standards.