Chief of Internal Audit, Mr. Labinot Lekaj panelist at the high-level international seminar held in Montenegro

The Chief of Internal Audit of the Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo (CBK), Mr. Labinot Lekaj, accompanied by the Head of the IT Audit Unit, Mr. Korab Gashi, participated in the high-level international seminar on governance and the role of internal audit in central banks, on topic “From Assurance to Impact: Empowering Internal Auditors as Trusted/Strategic Advisors,” co-organized in Podgorica by the Central Bank of Montenegro and the Central Bank of the Netherlands.

The event, held from 6-8 October 2025, brought together senior internal audit executives from central banks and financial institutions across the region and Europe to discuss strategic issues related to governance, institutional independence, and the evolving roles of internal audit in central banks.

Mr. Lekaj participated as a panelist on the topic “The Role of Internal Audit in Safeguarding the Independence of Central Banks and Building Resilience for the Future.” The panel addressed key issues such as early identification of governance failures, the use of technology and data analytics, development of new auditor competencies, and the strategic vision of internal audit functions toward 2030 and beyond, guided by international best practices.

The high-level international seminar gathered chief audit executives and senior internal audit leaders from 16 central banks, creating an important platform for professional exchange and inter-institutional cooperation.

The CBK remains committed to following the latest developments in internal auditing, with the goal of strengthening internal controls and enhancing institutional transparency.