Financial inclusion in Malaysia: Our evolution Since Bank Negara Malaysia’s inception in 1959, financial inclusion has been an important agenda for the Bank as it was recognised that it is central to supporting the aspirations for a balanced and sustainable growth of our economy. Attention was initially given to establishment of a diverse range of financial institutions to meet the needs of the various consumers and businesses, including rural communities and small businesses. Bank Negara Malaysia has also worked towards providing an enabling regulatory environment which encouraged the financial system to develop innovative products and services that would better meet the needs of the underserved. The Bank introduced the basic banking services, a no frills low cost savings account in 2005 and on the financing side, the micro-financing framework was established in 2006 to facilitate an uncollateralised micro financing scheme that provides access to financing in a fast, easy and convenient manner. Another important policy initiative is the development of such financial services based on Syariah principles. This has allowed many segments of the Malaysian society to now meaningfully use and benefit from the financial system. In line with the transformative importance of financial inclusion, the Central Bank of Malaysia Act 2009 states that promoting a sound, progressive and inclusive financial system as one of the primary functions of the Bank. This has provided a clear mandate and legislative power for the Bank to advance the financial inclusion agenda.

Bank of France reports industrial output continued to grow in most sectors in France in January 1997 BANK OF FRANCE, MONTHLY BUSINESS SURVEY, 17/2/97. In January, according to the business leaders surveyed by the Banque de France, industrial output continued to grow in most sectors. Activity was especially buoyant in the intermediate goods and consumer goods sectors. The food processing sector was alone in recording a contraction in activity. The capacity utilization rate improved. Overall demand strengthened further. French products were very competitive on foreign markets and this led to an increase in export orders. Export sales increased in the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany, while demand remained firm in the United States and Asia. On the domestic market, inter-industry demand was strong, even though the orders received came with very short delivery times in most cases. Order books are now near to normal levels. They are still considered to be low in the food-processing and automobile industries, but are deemed to be satisfactory in the capital goods and consumer goods sectors. Inventories of finished products are gradually returning to normal overall, but they still exceed the desired levels in the consumer goods, food-processing and intermediate goods sectors. The outlook for the coming months is distinctly brighter. Activity should increase in all sectors, with marked improvements in the intermediate goods and food-processing sectors. Commodity prices were stable overall, while finished product prices declined slightly. This fall stemmed mainly from substantial price cuts in the automobile industry, while prices generally held up in the other sectors.