Going forward Going forward, I have noted with satisfaction that FIRST will seek to strengthen the causal links between its technical assistance and the contributions of deep, orderly financial systems to economic growth, poverty reduction, and social equity. FIRST will do this by increasing its emphasis on achieving market development outcomes, and filling gaps in domestic financial markets.
It will also continue to give priority to supporting governments in lower-income countries in developing action plans geared toward these outcomes. Such a move is welcomed in the region where there has been a very strong upward trend in diversification of economic activities among rural households over the decade.