The Governor of the Bank of Albania, Gent Sejko, presented the 2024 Annual Report before the Parliamentary Committee on Economy, highlighting the country’s main economic developments. He emphasized that Albania’s economic outlook remains positive.
According to Sejko, the economy is expected to continue growing at a steady pace, creating opportunities for higher employment, wages, and overall well-being in the medium term.
However, he warned of short-term risks stemming from geopolitical tensions and global trade conflicts, which could impact both economic growth and inflation.
The Governor underscored the need for structural reforms focused on boosting productivity through improvements in education, healthcare, and the business climate, the development of public infrastructure, reducing informality, enhancing competitiveness, encouraging foreign direct investment (FDI) in industry and energy, and maintaining macroeconomic stability.
Sejko also pointed to challenges related to population aging and the shrinking labor force, which may restrain productivity and affect the pension system’s sustainability.
Regarding sectoral developments, the Bank of Albania called for more balanced and broad-based economic growth, rather than concentration in a few key sectors.
On the exchange rate, Sejko revealed that during 2024, the central bank purchased €914 million from the domestic market to curb the appreciation of the lek and stabilize the foreign exchange market — a process that is continuing into 2025.
