Under the motto Meet the Central Bank, in 2016, the National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia organized many events to mark this significant anniversary - 70 years of central banking in the Republic of Macedonia

Under the motto Meet the Central Bank, in 2016, the National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia organized many events to mark this significant anniversary - 70 years of central banking in the Republic of Macedonia. 

Financial education of the population, as one of the important functions of modern central banks, was a focal point of these activities. In this context, the NBRM conducted an extensive Financial Education Program for primary school students in the Republic of Macedonia. The Program included 4,331 student, accompanied by 358 teachers from 87 primary schools from all over the country. The Program consisted of two parts. The first part included one-day visits of primary school students to the National Bank Museum and Mint, where students had the opportunity to get acquainted with the primary functions of the National Bank through interactive presentations. Within this part of the Program, in 2016, 3,831 primary school students from 77 schools, of which 38 inland schools, visited the National Bank. For some of the primary schools from the most remote and sparsely populated areas, the visit was provided and organized by the National Bank, so that 806 students from these areas were given the opportunity to visit the National Bank. The second part of the Program included an organized Caravan of the National Bank that visited 10 primary schools from 10 different municipalities throughout the country, and provided an opportunity for 500 students to learn about the primary functions of the National Bank. 

As part of the financial education program, the National Bank has made and released two films: 1) National Bank - 70 years service to the Macedonian society, a short informative documentary dedicated to the history of the National Bank, and 2) Meet the Central Bank, a short informative and educational film, which in a simple and easily understandable language presents the most important aspects of the central bank's objectives and functions. 

In the area of professional education, in 2016, the following events were organized in the spirit of the anniversary: Fifth International Research Conference, Ninth International Conference on Payment Systems, and Second International IT Forum, which contributed to the exchange of experiences and advancement of knowledge between domestic and foreign experts.

Within the celebration of this great anniversary, two collections of research papers have been developed: 1) Bibliography of Central Banking Activities in the Republic of Macedonia: 1946 - 2016, and 2) Research Thought in the NBRM: 1992 - 2015, ensuring systematic conservation of these works, which should contribute to the future development of the banking and the economy in general in the Republic of Macedonia.

The 70th anniversary was also marked by a sporting event - charity race, organized by the NBRM Labor Union, with the support of the National Bank. The NBRM Labor Union donated the funds raised from the sporting event to the Association of Inclusive Educators of the Republic of Macedonia intended for the Center of Sensory Therapy of children with autism and ADHD.

The Program ended with the central celebration of this great anniversary held on 19 October 2016, when the President of the Republic of Macedonia, His Excellency Dr. Gjorge Ivanov awarded the Order of Merit for Macedonia to the National Bank. The National Bank was awarded the Order of Merits for Macedonia on the occasion of celebrating 70 years of its establishment, and particularly for the outstanding results achieved in the central banking activities as an independent bank of issue, and as the main foundation and pillar of macroeconomic stability of the sovereign and independent Republic of Macedonia. 

We believe that this program of events and activities has contributed to a dignified and successful celebration of this great anniversary and has achieved its ultimate goal of spreading financial literacy and raising awareness of the importance and the role of the National Bank in the Macedonian society.

Governor's Office