I also want to place on record my appreciation to Mr Trevor Manuel, Minister of Finance, Mr Mandisi Mphahlwa, Deputy Minister of Finance, Ms Maria Ramos, Director General of National Treasury, and the staff of the National Treasury for their cooperation with the Bank over the past year.
A word of appreciation is also appropriate to Mr Alec Erwin, Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Alistair Ruiters, Director General, and the staff of the Department of Trade and Industry who have become important collaborators of the Reserve Bank. Informative meetings were held with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Finance, which we found very helpful.