At the organizational level, we undertook important measures to ensure our ability to attract and retain the type of talent necessary for the continued growth of the business.  The Bank also implemented a system for managing human resources based on competencies, to align with the capabilities of our team with those required by our current business model.  This system is designed to guarantee sustainability of the characteristically high performance standards at Bladex.  Simultaneously, we continued our efforts to strengthen the organization’s execution capacity, synchronizing all business support activities with the objective of improving the quality of customer service – a differentiating factor for Bladex and an essential comparative advantage.  The restructuring of the support areas also allowed us to further fine-tune the effectiveness of our processes, and continue to improve the Bank’s operational efficiency.

In 2008, we will continue to promote the personal and professional development of the Bladex team.  By reinforcing the corporate values that constitute the essence of our culture – honesty, integrity, excellence, professionalism, and commitment – we hope to add value to the Bank, its shareholders and the Latin American community.