2  All speeches are available online at www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/Pages/speeches/default.aspx  2  The deepening of the symbiotic relationship between global markets and technological progress has lifted more than a billion people out of poverty (Chart 2), while a series of technological advances have fundamentally enriched our lives. Chart 1: 3 ½ billion people have internet access  Chart 2: 1 billion fewer people live on less than $ a day since the early 1980s  Billions of people  Billions of people  3.5  2.0 1.8  3.0  1.6 2.5  1.4 1.2  2.0  1.0 1.5  0.8 0.6  1.0  0.4 0.5  Number of poor at $ a day (2011 PPP)  0.2  0.0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016  0.0  Source: Internet Live Stats. An internet user is defined as an individual who can access the Internet at home, via any device type and connection. 2015 and 2016 are estimates. 1981  1986  1991  1996  2001  2006  2011  Source: World Bank. $ a day is the World Bank’s current global poverty line. Globally, since 1960, real per capita GDP has risen more than two-and-a-half times (Chart 3), average ii  incomes have begun to converge, and life expectancy has increased by nearly two decades (Chart 4).
These are the Top Islamic Bank and Top Development Financial Institution awards to recognize these two categories of institutions for their contribution towards the overall business growth of CGC and the SME sector. These new categories illustrate our sincere acknowledgment of the financial institutions that have made significant contribution to SME development. We believe 2008 is an important year for CGC. Foremost is that it marks the 36th year of the Corporation's involvement in SME development. It is also the year which will see the implementation of the third phase of our three-year business transformation plan and the successful completion of the three-year strategy. The necessary preparatory work under the transformation plan has largely being completed and we hope to take the first step towards achieving financial sustainability. Another significant milestone in 2008 is the establishment of the SME Credit Bureau, a watershed event in CGC's evolution. The Bureau is a source of credible and reliable credit information that serves the needs of both the SMEs and the potential financiers. This reflects the natural progression for the CGC in its continuous efforts to enhance access to financing by SMEs. The establishment of a SME Credit Bureau, by CGC in strategic collaboration with Dun & Bradstreet, would no doubt complement the other initiatives of the Government and the financial sector in promoting growth and development of SMEs. We have seen how CCRIS, where real-time and comprehensive information on consumers' credit exposures and history is readily available.