The supportive packages, controls over prices, and the interventions of monetary policy have enabled and alleviated these shocks, and have kept the negative expectations of public under control. In the same spirit, Albania has remained neither affected not indifferent. The undertaken measures to control prices and the interventions of the Bank of Albania have calmed the energy and foreign exchange markets. Naturally, the above-stated events do affect both the present and future, by increasing uncertainty and the negative expectations. Education is the best response to fight against uncertainty. Today, more than yesterday we should properly understand the importance of financial literacy, which helps us in our everyday life, not only for well-informed decision making, also to properly comprehend and react to policy makers’ messages. Thus, the supportive polices undertaken will become more effective and support more strongly the mitigation of negative shocks. Being aware and making the right financial selections, everyone – banks, institutions, enterprises, households and individuals – may play an important role in dealing with the consequences of extraordinary situations that the world is suffering. This educational campaign of Global Money Week is an excellent event to recall certain messages that the Bank of Albania has addressed extensively, turning them into an important part of its efforts for meeting the objectives and preserving the economic and financial stability. I would like to point out three main messages, which nowadays, due to the geopolitical and financial situation become more meaningful.
Latest digital and printing technology has revolutionised the banknote production to the highest degree of speed, accuracy and consistency, using technologically enhanced high speed printing machines to print millions of banknotes every day. Despite the rapid innovation of technology, one fundamental and specific aspect of banknotes production has never changed. When it comes to banknotes design, no technology can replace the required dexterity and the innovative mind of a design artist. Banknotes design has always been made by hand and the work is inevitably involves a process that is time consuming and requires painstaking efforts. The artist has to meticulously draw in great detail every aspect of the banknotes. Indeed as you will see at the exhibition, all these micro lines of icons give a distinguishing character to the banknotes and contribute to their uniqueness. But all the details serve more BIS central bankers’ speeches  1  than an aesthetic purpose. They also serve as the first line of defence against counterfeiting. So far, no digital copier, despite having the best resolution of contemporary technology, is able to copy micro lines and lettering on the banknotes. So if any of you here have any doubt whether a banknote in your wallet is genuine or not, place the banknote under a magnifying glass and look for micro lines. You will be enthralled at how detailed the banknote design when you get to see the blown up version of banknotes on display here in this exhibition.