January 2019 marks the 150th anniversary since the Niigata port was opened to the world as a trade port ahead of many other ones. As I mentioned at the outset, people here in the Echigo and Sado regions historically have overcome challenges with their diligence, patience, and ingenuity.
I would like to close by expressing my hope that you will be frontrunners in terms of overcoming deflation and vitalizing local economies while making the most of the prefecture's advantages. Thank you very much for your attention.