*  *  *  Microfinance Council of the Philippines President Rolando Victoria, ADB Vice President Lawrence Greenwood, ADB ED Marita Magpili Jimenez, Mr. Barry Hitchcock, other officers of ADB, fellow advocates and workers in microfinance, distinguished participants, representatives from the banking community, special guests, good morning. This two-day conference organized around the theme “Powering Innovations in Microfinance” is truly a special event.
This will ensure that, also in a significantly enlarged euro area in the future, the Governing Council will maintain its capacity for timely and efficient decision-making. Upon accession, the new Member States will join Economic and Monetary Union with the status of “countries with a derogation”, and their central banks will become part of the ESCB.