Indeed, the euro area is the largest trading bloc in the world, accounting for over 13% of world trade in goods and services in 2006.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the final session dealt with establishing the role of central banks in financing infrastructure for industrial development. African countries are plagued by gross infrastructure deficit, and most interventions are largely dependent on annual government budget which can hardly bridge the infrastructure deficit gap. It has been said that infrastructure is a precursor for industrial development.