As part of the Global Money Week, the Central Bank of Kosovo has today signed an memorandum of understanding with the Faculty of Economics of the University of Prishtina "Hasan Prishtina", to advance cooperation and support the academic aspect, the advancement of economic and financial knowledge, the exchange of information and cooperation for joint projects in the field of economy, finance and financial education.

On this occasion, the governor of CBK, Ahmet Ismaili emphasized that this memorandum is expected to contribute to the development and promotion of knowledge in the field of economics and finance in general and financial education in particular.

Through this memorandum, the CBK intends to build a joint platform with the Faculty of Economics, where joint projects and initiatives can be developed to raise and advance economic and financial educational knowledge in Kosovo, with the aim of improving knowledge about economic and financial issues for young people.

After signing this memorandum, CBK Governor Ahmet Ismaili gave a lecture to the students of the Faculty of Economics entitled "The Central Bank and its role in the financial system of the Republic of Kosovo".

"Within the Global Money Week, we are marking some activities, we have prepared the memorandum with the Faculty of Economics of the University of Prishtina. We will sign such similar memorandums with the other holders of higher education in Kosovo, the aim of which is that the Central Bank, through its experts, offers expertise in the academic process, exchange data regarding issues related to various research and scientific publications, as well as offer joint discussion tables related to key macroeconomic issues and the country's financial system. Therefore, today's lecture is the start of the implementation of this memorandum that we just signed… As an average growth rate, according to the Statistics Agency, the rate is 3.3 percent, inflation is falling, closing at around 5 percent, we had 4.9 percent, but that is stabilizing from 11.2 to 5. The expectations for next year are to go to 2.5 because in the last quarter it was somewhere around 3 percent or less than 3 percent. Foreign direct investments are about 11.4 percent of the gross domestic product and remittances are about 10 percent of the gross domestic product," said Ismaili.

Meanwhile, the dean of the Faculty of Economics, Driton Balaj, expressed his happiness with the presence of governor Ismaili, which he said will be a source of inspiration for the new generations.

He emphasized that by signing the memorandum with the Central Bank of Kosovo, they have opened opportunities for the students of this faculty, offering them work practice and employment opportunities.

"Also from this facility of the Faculty of Economics, our students achieve exceptional results in professional and academic life. The governor completed his doctoral studies at the Faculty of Economics, and successfully managed to take on a task, an extremely large responsibility, in the leadership of the Central Bank. Within the framework of the Global Money Week organized by the Central Bank, we have always been partners of the Central Bank, even more so now, within the framework of this event, as today we have signed the cooperation agreement of the Central Bank at the Faculty Economic to open the opportunities for our students that the Central Bank offers work practice and employment opportunities", said Balaj.

In addition to these, during the lecture to the students at the Faculty of Economics, the governor of CBK officially opened the call for the annual award for "Young Economist".

He said that this award aims to promote scientific research for all those interested and that the last date for its submission is September 30, 2024.

Ismaili indicated that five topics are defined within this paper, where the winners will be rewarded with a certain amount of money, which starts with 1600 euros for the first winner, and 600 euros for the fifth one.

"Today, we took the opportunity since we are here in front of you to officially launch the opening of the award for young economists. This award aims to promote scientific research for all those interested. It also applies to you, five topics are defined or the top six, which you can either write from scratch or have written… Paper submission date is 30th September 2024 at 16:30. Winners will be awarded a prize that does not pay the price of science, but simply appreciates it. Up to five prizes are planned, the first prize is 1600, the second prize is 1100, the third prize is 900, the fourth is 800 and the fifth is 600", said Ismaili.

Meanwhile, the exchange of publications and data, lectures for students, the engagement of experts, research cooperation, the possibility of practice for students, the review of the curriculum and the organization of lectures with CBK experts, are some of the activities committed by CBK in this Memorandum. /Z. Zeneli/