In less than 10 years, trade between China and the rest of Asia increased fourfold; trade between China and Japan/Korea tripled over the same period; intra-ASEAN trade doubled, and trade between ASEAN and India has tripled (Mandelson, 2005).
It has evolved over time. Since its establishment in January 1879 as a government credit institution with an authorised capital of two million French francs, the Bulgarian National Bank has come a long way. Progressively, it acquired new and increasingly complex functions and duties.