basic entrepreneurial skills when they leave school. consumer protection we always refer to the customer / consumer as the king. if our customers are kings then we should look after and treat them as kings. therefore having simple and transparent consumer protection mechanisms in place is critical. for example, in the financial system, consumers need to be aware of the fees and charges they have to pay. what do they do and where do they go if they have complaints about financial services and products? to this end, the central bank will soon introduce a voluntary banking and financial institutions code for financial institutions in the country. i hope our banks and other financial institutions will sign up to this code because it is very important that our customers / consumers are protected and well informed. access to financial services to achieve this objective, there is increasing focus on the use of technology as a means of overcoming the physical barriers to extending financial services in rural areas. the use of the mobile phone as channel to extend coverage of financial services to a greater portion of our rural people is a good example. there is also special emphasis on ensuring greater access to financial services by our women. bis central bankers ’ speeches the three goals i have just highlighted form the key activities of the national financial inclusion taskforce ( nfit ) established early this year. and i am encouraged that anz and other banks in the country are proactive members on the taskforce. and on their own banks have also been very proactive in conducting financial inclusion activities for their clients and the wider public. i am confident that with on - going support from all stakeholders, solomon islands would successfully achieve the moneypacific goals ahead of the other countries in the region. official opening ladies and gentlemen, without taking anymore of your time, i would like to thank barry for inviting me to this important occasion. i wish barry and his team on - going success in their activities in solomon islands. with these few words, ladies and gentlemen, i now have the pleasure in declaring anz ’ s new honiara central branch here at the hyundai mall officially open. thank you very much. bis central bankers ’ speeches

lucas papademos : adoption of the euro by cyprus and malta speech by mr lucas papademos, vice - president of the european central bank, at the euro festivities marking the decision of the eu council on the adoption of the euro by cyprus and malta, brussels, 10 july 2007. * * * in less than six months from now, the euro will be part of the everyday life as the new currency of the people of cyprus and malta. this is an essential and practical consequence of the decision taken by the ecofin council today. it is a momentous decision in the history of both countries. and it is the culmination point of a process of economic adjustment and technical preparations. on behalf of the entire governing council of the european central bank, i would like to warmly congratulate all those involved in this process, and the people of cyprus and malta, on this accomplishment! the enlargement of the euro area to include these two countries is a significant and joyful event, not just for them, but also for all of us who are already part of the european monetary union. we at the ecb and the eurosystem are particularly pleased to welcome two new members in our central banking “ team ”. the central banks of cyprus and malta will become members of the eurosystem. and the governor of the central bank of cyprus, athanasios orphanides, and the governor of the central bank of malta, michael c. bonello will become members of the governing council of the ecb. the two governors, together with the other 19 members of the ecb ’ s governing council, will thus participate fully in the decision - making concerning the single monetary policy. we are looking forward to benefit from their experience and expertise in our deliberations. together, we will continue to analyse carefully the economic situation and outlook in the euro area and to do what is necessary to fulfil our mandate : to maintain price stability in the euro area as a whole, to the benefit of soon 15 countries and 319 million europeans. i am sure that the people of cyprus and malta are looking forward to the changeover to the euro. they rightly expect that it will take place smoothly and that they are informed about their new banknotes and coins. a smooth changeover to the euro will enhance their trust in the safety and integrity of their new currency. to this end, the ecb, in close co - operation with the central bank of cyprus and the central