Skopje, June 17, 2026 

"All countries, regardless of size, face the same challenge: building institutions that citizens will trust across generations. Central banks play a crucial role in safeguarding the domestic currency stability." This was one of the key messages from the panel held at the Museum of the National Bank, organized by the National Bank, the Embassy of Switzerland, and the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in North Macedonia. The event addressed pressing macroeconomic issues and global challenges in an era of heightened uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, shifting trade and financial flows, and rapid technological development.

In his remarks, the National Bank Governor Dr. Trajko Slaveski emphasized that the stable exchange rate of the denar against the euro has been a cornerstone of macroeconomic stability in the country for three decades.

“Although the global monetary system is undergoing gradual changes and facing new challenges, the National Bank remains committed to maintaining macroeconomic and financial stability through credible policies and international cooperation. We have successfully navigated recent global shocks, reduced inflation, and preserved the foreign exchange market stability. Foreign reserves remain at solid levels, while confidence in the denar and the banking system has been sustained,” Governor Slaveski noted.

Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation, Christoph Sommer, highlighted that the history of the Swiss franc demonstrates how currency stability is not the result of chance or isolated policies, but of decades of responsible management, institutional continuity, and long-term vision, noting that “Technology may change how money moves, but institutions will continue to determine whether societies trust it. In an era of rapid transformation, central banks remain among the key guardians of stability, credibility and public confidence. Their role is not only technical. It is fundamentally linked to safeguarding trust—one of the most valuable assets any economy can possess“.

The panel also marked the 80th anniversary of central banking tradition in the country. Speakers emphasized that such milestones reflect the gradual building of strong institutions through continuity, professionalism, and consistent dedication to the public interest.

The importance of the Memorandum of Understanding between the National Bank and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) for the period 2025–2028 was underscored. This memorandum will enhance monetary policy analytical tools, further modernize the financial sector, and strengthen the institutional capacities of the National Bank.

The event featured a presentation by Dr. Costa Vayenas, followed by a panel discussion with Professor Cédric Tille of the Geneva Graduate Institute, Dr. Florian Weber, Senior Economist at the Swiss National Bank, and Dimitar Cvetkovski, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Makstil AD Skopje.