Distinguished audience,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my pleasure to welcome you at the National Bank of Romania, for the annual conference of the Romanian Association of Financial and Banking Analysts. After three years of online, we meet here again in person, at this anniversary conference, continuing the tradition started in 2010, when all but one of your annual conferences took place at the central bank.

The Romanian Association of Financial and Banking Analysts, comprising almost 120 members, has an essential role in promoting professional views regarding economic topics, in a public debate which is too often subjected to populism and manipulation. By increasing public awareness of the real economic issues and solutions, your Association contributes to promoting a balanced public message.

Another important role played by the Romanian Association of Financial and Banking Analysts is providing internationally recognized certifications, such as Certified European Financial Analyst, Certified International Investment Analyst, Certified Environment, Social, and Gender Analyst or Certified Environment, Social and Governance Essentials Analyst, adding to the prestige of the Romanian economic school.

The present conference is not an ordinary one. It has an encompassing international dimension, through the presence of the European Federation of Financial Analysts Societies representatives, led by the Chairman, Dr. Jesús López Zaballos and the Deputy Chairman, Mr. Fritz Mostboeck. We are glad that European Federation of Financial Analysts Societies has chosen Bucharest to hold the General Assembly, while celebrating sixty years of activity. The European Federation of Financial Analysts Societies has members in 25 European countries, many of them being here today.

The topics of the two panels of today’s conference are challenging: macroeconomic perspectives in Romania in the European context and how environment, social and governance is going to impact de financial sector. I wish you all fruitful discussions!
To our foreign guests I wish a pleasant stay in Romania.

I would like to invite Ms. Daniela Ropotă, President of the Romanian Association of Financial and Banking Analysts to take the floor. Then, Dr. Jesús López Zaballos, Chairman of the European Federation of Financial Analysts Societies will address the audience. The two panels I have mentioned will follow.

At the end of the conference, you are all invited to a cocktail and a guided tour of the Museum of the National Bank of Romania.

Thank you!

Bucharest, 8 June 2023