A clear indicator of the rural banking sector’s strength is its strong capital position: its capital adequacy ratio at 13.8% as of September 2008 remains well above the BSP’s mandatory standard of 10%. Of course, your CAR remains a bit lower than that for our thrift banks and universal/commercial banks.
Developments in that sector therefore ought to be of great interest to tourism officials and changes in the face of this sector should be monitored closely. It is important that we identify these linkages and build on these synergies. The development of local craft is an example of synergies between tourism and local manufacturing.