Governor Ismaili Participates in high-level morning session of the World Bank on “Reigniting Productivity in Europe and Central Asia”

The Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo (CBK), Mr. Ahmet Ismaili, participated in the high-level morning session “Reigniting Productivity in Europe and Central Asia”, organized by the World Bank during the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group.

The event gathered senior World Bank management, including Mr. Asad Alam, Regional Practice Director for Europe and Central Asia, and Ms. Antonella Bassani, Vice President for Europe and Central Asia, alongside ministers and governors representing Kosovo, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Moldova, and Kyrgyzstan.

The discussions focused on the World Bank’s regional productivity study for Europe and Central Asia (ECA), aiming to identify key priorities to enhance productivity, strengthen trade and investment, and promote digitalization and technology adoption as engines of growth.

In his remarks, Governor Ismaili expressed appreciation to the World Bank management and staff for organizing this important event and preparing a comprehensive analysis that provides valuable evidence and practical insights on productivity trends and policy priorities.

During his intervention on the topic “Promoting Technology Adoption and Digitalization,” Governor Ismaili highlighted that Kosovo’s young population and vibrant ICT sector present strong potential to drive productivity gains. He noted that the rapid advance of AI and digital tools offers opportunities to foster a more innovative, service-oriented, and knowledge-based economy.

Governor Ismaili further underscored the importance of supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the backbone of Kosovo’s economy, in overcoming challenges related to technology adoption, such as limited access to financing, skills, and infrastructure. He stressed the need for targeted measures to promote digital literacy, e-commerce, and access to digital finance.

From a financial-sector perspective, Governor Ismaili emphasized the importance of inclusive digital transformation, calling for investments in digital skills and digital public services to ensure that all regions and population groups benefit equally.

The event concluded with constructive exchanges and actionable ideas on how to boost productivity and competitiveness across the Europe and Central Asia region.