(3) In 2004, the foreign reserves stood at Euro 717 million, and in 2011 (April) they climbed to Euro 1 872 million, which is by 2.6 times more, and always ample to respond to the occasional imbalances in the foreign exchange market. (4) The crucial question would be: Was the banking system making enough credits i.e. was the National Bank disabling the “smooth” lending to the private sector, or was it the opposite? The figures speak for themselves! In the seven-year period from 1997 to 2003, the average annual credit growth equaled 11.6% and in the seven-year period from 2004 to 2010, it equaled 23.1%, which is by two times faster. The comparison between the credit growth and the GDP growth shows that in the 2004–2010 period, the nominal credit growth was by 3.12 times faster relative to the nominal GDP growth, while the credit real growth was by 5.7 times higher relative to the real GDP growth. Should this difference be even greater? (5) The banking system also improved substantially. It remained undamaged even during the Great Recession. i. The solvency remained high. The capital adequacy ratio was preserved to a very good level of 16.4%. The liquidity, after the worrying downward trend (2007, 2008 and early 2009), was reestablished, thanks to the undertaken measures, to a very solid level. In March 2009, the liquid assets constituted 20.2% of the total assets, and in December 2010 it made up 30.7%. The household deposit-liquid asset coverage ratio increased from 44.6% to 61.9%.
They failed to see the nature of the exchange rate regime and that changing such concept could only make greater damage. We endured. The situation consolidated. The data on credit growth, which, even back than, was not within the negative zone, unlike most of the European countries, and the banking sector stability justified our beliefs. Certainly, there are other sensitive situations. They will maybe take their turn on some other occasion. Not now during the pre-election period! Dear all, As I already said, the economy is an open equation with constant unknown variables. The financial crisis and economic recession denied many lessons developed to the level of a  BIS central bankers’ speeches  3  dogma. The central banks started a new post-recession period. They will have to take care more of the financial stability, because it turned that the price stability is not sufficient to ensure financial stability. It raises many new issues that will not be discussed now. I am convinced, however, that this institution becomes more capable to face all challenges. I wish that Dimitar and all staff members achieve better results and certainly, a personal happiness. I would like, once again, to thank you for being here tonight, for the cooperation we had, for each word of kindness that we exchanged and for everything that could join us in the future. I also wish you professional satisfaction and personal happiness. Thank you. 4  BIS central bankers’ speeches