Skopje, 15 February 2021 

We have envisaged commencement with activities that will provide support to “green finance” within the achievement of our main objectives. In this respect, the National Bank envisaged stimulation and development of the research activity in the area of “green finance”, as an area that should be incorporated into the priorities of every socially responsible institution, and in order to contribute to the creation of a “green” and sustainable economy, which would ultimately provide a higher standard of living and improvement of the quality of life for citizens.

This was emphasized by the Governor of the National Bank, Anita Angelovska Bezhoska, in an interview for the portal “Bankarstvo.mk”.

In her interview, the Governor points out that climate changes, as one of the greatest global threats, become increasingly important in the activities of the central banks, whereby they, in recent years, increasingly analyze the impact of climate changes on financial stability and monetary policy. Exactly for this reason, as underlined by Angelovska Bezhoska, towards the end of the last year the National Bank amended its Strategic Plan by including activities for monitoring and managing the risks from climate changes, as well as an analysis of the possible impact of climate changes on the banking system.

Angelovska Bezhoska also refers to the other development projects that the National Bank plans to implement this year, as part of the program activities.

“Among other things, we will especially focus on the support of the development of the fintech sector, indicated by the results of the conducted survey with the support from the EFSE. Most of the respondents consider that: the fintech sector can provide greater access to a wider range of financial services, primarily for consumers and small businesses; it has the potential to increase financial inclusion, and hence the economic growth; and it can also contribute to the harmonization of the financial system with the best international practices. "This is an additional indicator that it is especially important to continue to invest in this area and for that purpose the National Bank will work on drawing up a Strategy for support of the development of the fintech sector." - said the Governor.

Last year, marked by the pandemic, accelerated the process of digitalization of the economies and the entire society, to which we should adjust in the appropriate manner. Consequently, in order to monitor the novelties and exchange of experiences in the field of digitalization, representatives of the National Bank took part in the work of the Innovation Hub of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), where key issues for the future of the financial world are being discussed.

As emphasized by the Governor in her interview, another significant area to which the National Bank will give a special importance in the next period is financial education and financial inclusion.

In her interview, Angelovska Bezhoska also refers to the expectations for trends in the banking sector in 2021, as well as in the field of banking regulation.

As pointed out by the Governor, after the adoption of the new Law on Payment Services and Payment Systems the National Bank will also implement projects for amendments or adoption of relevant bylaws in the field of payment services and payment systems which is within the competence of the central bank.