Governor Selimović at MICROBALKANS25: CBBH leads by own example in inclusive and sustainable finance

The Governor of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jasmina Selimović, Ph.D. delivered the keynote address at the MICROBALKANS25 conference, the leading regional gathering dedicated to inclusive finance, innovation and ESG transformation in the Western Balkans.

The MICROBALKANS25 conference brought together representatives of regulatory institutions, international organizations, development funds and financial institutions from across the region, with the aim of enhancing cooperation and knowledge exchange in the field of sustainable and inclusive finance. The event, jointly organized by AMFI and WB Alliance members, is recognized as a regional movement that connects institutions, strengthens trust and encourages innovation for a fairer and more resilient financial future in the Western Balkans.

Governor Selimović emphasized that the microcredit sector plays an important role in the financial system of Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially in supporting rural areas, microenterprises, lower-income households and women entrepreneurs. According to the CBBH Financial Stability Report, banks account for 87.7% of total assets of financial intermediaries in the country, while the microcredit sector accounts for 3.4%, but its importance goes beyond the numbers alone because it represents a key instrument of social inclusion and economic empowerment of local communities.

The Governor reminded that the Central Bank of BH is a signatory of the WeFinance Code (WiFi Code), by which it is obliged to develop and publish gender-disaggregated financial statistics. "What is not measured cannot be improved," the Governor said, stressing that reliable and accessible data are the base of a modern and stable financial system.

As part of further strengthening gender equality and inclusive policies, the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in cooperation with EFSE (Fund for Southeast Europe), is currently developing its own Gender Policy, confirming the institution's commitment to "Lead by example".

As an active member of the Sustainable Banking and Finance Network (SBFN) and the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS), the Central Bank of BH contributes to global efforts towards a sustainable, green and responsible financial system, through analytical activities, education and international cooperation.

Speaking about digitalisation, the Governor pointed out that digital transformation is not only a matter of transaction speed, but also the matter of inclusion and accessibility, and that activities such as the development of instant payments, preparations for the SEPA integration and improvement of statistical reporting with gender and social dimensions are key steps towards a more modern, fair and transparent financial ecosystem.