Category: ALSE News

As part of the work we are doing for financial education and raising public awareness on capital market in the country, in cooperation with the prestigious institution German Sparkassenstiftung Albania (DSIK Albania) and the Albanian Securities Trading Association (ASTA), we are organizing for the first time the participation of the Faculties of Economics of Albanian public and non-public universities in the international competition on the topic: “VIRTUAL STOCK EXCHANGE – Stock Market Learning “.

The competition has to do with the access of 3-4 students’ teams, in a virtual environment of a centralized internet platform, which will provide them virtual funds (50,000 EUR) and will give them the opportunity to access the real prices of securities trading (stocks, bonds, investment funds, etc.), by building a virtual investment portfolio in securities, in order to maximize the rate of return on investment. The international competition starts in mid-September 2021 and lasts about 6 weeks. In December 2021 an independent international jury will evaluate the performance of the virtual portfolios and make public the winning team with an international award. Also, DSIK Albania is committed to offering a special national award (in Albania), to reward the domestic university teams with the highest investment performance.

For this purpose, today, June 24, 2021, the organizers of this event in Albania provided a detailed and professional training for all students of public and non-public universities in the country, who will be included in this international competition. The interest towards this event was extraordinary and there was a wide participation of more than 150 students, divided into more than 50 teams, representing about 15 public and non-public universities.

This training, which is organized for the first time in our country and in such a comprehensive space, was welcomed by Ms. Mimoza Kaçi, Deputy Executive Director of the Albanian Financial Supervision Authority (AFSA). In her speech Ms. Kaçi emphasized the importance of financial education for all generations, as an element that promotes the development of financial markets, especially the capital market, in a qualitative and quantitative way. Furthermore, Ms. Kaçi focused on the work currently being done by the AFSA in cooperation with the Bank of Albania for the National Financial Education Strategy. Likewise, Ms. Kaçi informed the participants on the work done so far by the AFSA to improve the legal and regulatory FRAMEWORK of the industry with the drafting and approval of four laws and their supporting regulations. At the end, Ms. Kaçi thanked the organizers for this initiative and draw the attention on universities to participate as much as possible in every event, the purpose of which is to raise public awareness about the market and financial services.

Following, the representatives of DSIK Albania, Albanian Securities Exchange and ASTA conducted an intensive training for students, which included detailed information regarding:

1. Rules, procedures and Awards for participation in the International Competition “Virtual Stock Exchange – Learning Stock Market”,
2. The operational side of Placing Orders on the Trading System and Securities Trading on the Stock Exchange,
3. Creating a Portfolio in Securities and Asset Management.

For more information about Reported Transaction (OTC) on 18.06.2021 click

For more information about Reported Transaction (OTC) on 14.06.2021 click

Today on the June 11^th, 2021, Albanian Securities Exchange made e specific training for the employees of the Credins Bank, which are in charge of micro client relations into the whole branching network of the bank. The scope of this training was to help the young bankers better understand:

• the process of the investment services,
• the public offer of securities,
• operational procedures of the public offer,
• the importance of prospectus and information disclosed,
• information to be given to the clients investing in securities,
• order transmitting to the Treasury Department buy/sell securities on behalf of their clients etc.

Credins Bank remains a pioneer in offering investment services for domestic investor clients. Additionally, the bank has been one of the most important market players exploring the potential of capital markets and financing through the corporate bonds issuance in the domestic market.

The Chief Executive Officer of Albanian Securities Exchange, Mr. Artan Gjergji took part today to the awarding ceremony of the wining prizes for the students of Economic Faculty at Epoka University who participated the Stock Competition. This competition organized by the Young Economist Network (YEN), part of the Economic Faculty, aimed the participation of the students in a virtual stock simulating game, were teams try to build a virtual securities portfolio, based on virtual cash amounts, and compete to each other for a higher rate of return from the portfolio investment.

The Young Economist Network (YEN) was created in 2014 from students of Economics Department in Epoka University. YEN provides young economists relation with professors of the field together in order to work toward organization of economic events in Albania and provide professional enhancement of students and strong network with professors and companies in Albania.

During his welcoming speech, Mr. Gjergji emphasized the importance of such initiatives not only to increase the public awareness to such important concepts such as investing, financial instruments and capital markets, but also to familiarize them with the risks and benefits associated in this process. Likewise, Mr. Gjergji made a short presentation of the Albanian Securities Exchange, including the challenges ahead for the development of capital markets in Albania.

At the end of the event, the winners of the competition were handed over the prizes.

As part of the work done to rise the public awareness regarding capital markets, the Albanian Securities Exchange (ALSE) and Mediterranean University of Albania (UMSH) signed today on June, 9^th, 2021, a Memorandum of Understanding which is focused on the mutual institutional cooperation regarding the scientific research and academic conferences with a specific interest on capital markets. Likewise, this MoU puts a mile stone in the process of internships for UMSH students within the premises of ALSE.

The memorandum of Understanding was signed by Chief Executive Officer of ALSE, Mr. Artan Gjergji and the Rector of the Mediterranean University of Albania, Prof. Dr. Adrian Civici.

The Albanian Securities Exchange closely cooperates form many years now with all the domestic high education institutions regarding the rising public awareness and financial education level on domestic securities market.

Today on June 2^nd, 2021, the American Chamber of Commerce in Albania (AmCham) in cooperation with the Albanian Securities Exchange (ALSE) and Grant Thornton Albania organized with its members the round-table with the topic: “Capital Market and Albanian Exchange listing as an Alternative for Corporate Financing”.

The event was welcomed by Mr. Enio Jaço, the President of AMCham as well as by Mr. Ervin Mete, Executive Director of the Albanian Financial Supervisory Authority (AFSA). Mr. Jaço discussed the importance of capital markets in a faster development of the economy, as an effective tool to be explored by the Albanian businesses, While Mr. Mete expressed his will and the philosophy of the regulatory body run by him, to support the development of the domestic capital market. In addition, Mr. Mete made an expose of the legal and infrastructural reforms undertaken by the Albanian Government and the AFSA to improve capital market legislation bringing it closer to EU Directives as well as gave the participants information on the strategy for the domestic capital market development, which is being prepared by AFSA with the support of World Bank experts.

Following, the presentations of key speakers representing capital market operators took place. Mr. Mark Crawford, the president of Aksioner Securities Brokerage drew the attention on the importance of the capital market in the economic development of Albania comparing it with examples from Balkan neighbor countries. He also considered very important the involvement of big domestic and foreign investment projects into the process of capital market and stock exchange listing as a good tool not only to raise capital, but also to mobilize the local capital resources.

Mr. Artan Gjergji, the Chief Executive Officer of the Albanian Securities Exchange informed the participants with the models of financing business through issuance of corporate stocks and/or bonds, focusing on the benefits of business to use capital markets as the most effective way of financing their activity. He also informed the participants on the listing criteria and the costs of the listing process in the Albanian Securities Exchange.

Mr. Kledi Kodra, Managing Partner of Grant Thornton Albania gave the participants an overview of the corporate governance principle and financial obligations to be fulfilled by the corporates, which shall issue stocks and bonds in the Albanian Securities Exchange. He stressed the importance of financial disclosure, transparency and auditing procedures as key factors for listed corporations which are considered by law as Public Interest Entities (PIEs).

At the end, all guest speakers answered the questions coming from participants.