Financial literacy is a lubricant of economic mechanisms, and monetary, fiscal policies, government policies in general work better in a financially literate social and political environment, governor of the National Bank of Romania (BNR) Mugur Isarescu said on Friday at the third edition of the Financial Literacy Forum.
„More than a century and a half ago, Mihail Kogalniceanu said: ‘If the country has to have a place in the concert of Europe, then it will not be able to reach through industry, nor through trade, but through education.’ It is, without a doubt, our duty to make every effort to promote education, instruction, and to make sure that experience and professionalism are put at the service of the country. In such context, we see the promotion of financial education as a strategic anchor. Today, financial literacy is no longer an option, but a pressing necessity. Monetary, fiscal policies, government policies in general, work better in a financially literate social and political environment. I would say that financial literacy is a lubricant of economic mechanisms,” said Isarescu.
According to the governor, financial literacy activities at BNR can also be translated as an apostolate mission.
„Our teams of specialists open many doors every week in the country, in remote areas of the country, in disadvantaged communities. We hope that the involvement and passion of our colleagues from all over the BNR network, doubled by our organisational and institutional capacity, have contributed to the transmission of knowledge and messages in a professional and balanced manner and attentive to the needs of the interlocutors. The mission we have undertaken requires seriousness, consistency, continuity. And all this builds trust in a sustainable way. For over 30 years, we have made available to the academe, specialists and colleagues in the finance and banking system, the entire infrastructure of BNR be it material, professional or human, the historical and cultural heritage. This March alone, for five days, when Global Money Week was celebrated internationally, the BNR financial education team took our messages to more than 28,000 participants in this project.”
Isarescu added that the event was attended by ten students from Suceava, Oradea, Timisoara, Tulcea and Giurgiu, who are the finalists of the Eugeniu Carada National Finance and Banking Education Contest.
„They are also winners of the high schools where they study, being involved in school competitions at national and international level. Their participation in this competition, already in its third edition – under the guidance of economics professors – helps them develop the necessary skills to understand how the economy and, implicitly, society works. I would like to congratulate both the participating students and their teachers and parents and encourage them to follow their passion for economics and finance,” Isarescu added.
He said that BNR is hosting for the second consecutive year the Financial Literacy Forum, an event that has reached its third edition.
„Today’s meeting has a double meaning to us: we celebrate, for the third year, the Financial Literacy Day, and on April 17/29, we celebrate 145 years since the establishment of the National Bank of Romania, the 16th central bank in the world, in the historical order of its establishment. The Old Lady’ managed to overcome the many challenges of history, with social and economic transformations, keeping her values and professionalism over the years,” said Isarescu.
AGERPRES
