The MPC’s inflation target sits within the Bank’s wider mission – set out in our founding charter from 1694 – to promote the good of the people of the United Kingdom. These are not just words from an old charter. It is the heart and soul of what we do. It is therefore important to us to listen to what the people of the United Kingdom have to say. We of course also talk to financial market participants through our market intelligence gathering, and our Agents travel to all corners of the country. We join them regularly in this work. I personally go on visits to each of the 12 regions and nations of the UK at least once a year to hear from businesses and organisations first-hand. Page 3  Bank of England outreach programmes Listening to people from all parts of the United Kingdom  But today I would like to focus on our outreach programmes: our citizen’s forum consisting of 12 regional panels, each chaired by a devoted volunteer from the local community, and currently counting 4,000 members; our community forums for charities and the people they support; and our youth forum specifically for young people aged 16 to 25. These are the events where we talk with and listen to people from all walks of life. We set out some of the high-level themes from those conversations in a report from the chairs of the regional panels published today. What we hear from them is sobering.
Furthermore, banks and Financial Institutions in Zambia have in the past lamented the low levels of banking and economic knowledge among graduates from tertiary institutions as well as the borrowing public in general. It is therefore gratifying to note that this evening, we celebrate and showcase the depth of the entrepreneurial talent that is flourishing in our schools of higher learning. It is also heartening to see these young men and women putting up high quality business proposals of a diverse range of projects. This speaks well for the inventiveness of our learning institutions and is a very welcome development indeed. Ladies and Gentlemen, this initiative represents a major milestone in developing linkages between the industry and tertiary institutions which is key in bridging the gap between expectations of employers and those of the labour force. It is also testimony that we have financial institutions and business entities that are willing and committed to promoting private entrepreneurship among young people in our country at the level of start-up businesses. Once again, I commend the sponsors and their partners for this important initiative. I am certain that your efforts will go a long way in contributing to the building of an entrepreneurial society in Zambia. This is a task not only for you but for everybody. I wish to urge in particular, the education system in Zambia to enhance their efforts in promoting positive attitudes towards entrepreneurship in the institutions of higher learning.