At the 28th Annual Conference of the Microfinance Centre, Bank of Albania Second Deputy Governor Natasha Ahmetaj said the central bank has taken regulatory and supervisory measures in recent years to strengthen transparency, consumer protection and credit quality in Albania’s non-bank and microfinance sector. In her keynote remarks, she presented microfinance as a tool for economic and social development, especially for small enterprises and groups with more limited access to traditional banking services. She pointed to regulatory amendments aimed at stronger risk management practices and greater transparency toward clients. The speech also stressed that public trust and reputation are critical to the sustainability of the microfinance industry, and that the sector should continue to provide an affordable and responsible financial alternative for vulnerable groups while balancing commercial objectives with social responsibility.