The Bank of Albania hosted Austrian National Bank Governor Martin Kocher for an official visit aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two central banks. Bilateral talks with Governor Gent Sejko, followed by a roundtable with banking sector representatives and senior Bank of Albania officials, focused on economic and financial developments, Albania’s European integration process, and issues affecting the banking sector and regional cooperation. The visit was described as Kocher’s first official visit to Albania. Discussions covered the alignment of Albania’s regulatory and supervisory framework with European Union standards, as well as the effects of technological change and financial innovation on banking. Sejko said Albania’s economy continues to expand, supported by consumption, investment, tourism and a healthy banking sector, while inflation has returned close to the Bank of Albania’s target. He added that the banking sector remains well capitalized, liquid and profitable, private sector lending continues to grow, and non-performing loans remain at historically low levels, alongside the central bank’s work to modernize financial infrastructure and supervision. Kocher stressed the need for central banks, supervisors and banks to manage geopolitical risks, real estate market vulnerabilities, rapid technological change and cyber security challenges, and called for broader and more integrated European capital markets. He also reiterated Austria’s support for Albania’s EU integration and closer cooperation with European institutions.

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