Looking ahead, real GDP growth is now expected to average about 2 1/2 per cent in the first half of 2007, rising to about 2 3/4 per cent in the second half of this year.
Moreover, considering the huge impacts on our economy overall that could result from any failure in our payment and settlement system, due to a natural disaster for example, we will need to devote our utmost efforts to maintaining the stability and continuity of system operations as well.