Kim Jae-chul, chairman & CEO, KITA Ushering in the Year of the Dog, I wish you and your trading companies the best of luck for 2006. Last year, Korea's trading volume surpassed the $500 billion mark to become the 12th in the world, making a turning point for the nation to enter the $20,000 era in terms of per capita national income in the near future like in most countries with the trading volume of over $500 billion. Looking back over the past century, there were many ups and downs. Until the middle of the 20th century, our country could not escape from the absolute poverty. Since the latter part of the 20th century, however, the nation has developed into the world's 11th economic powerhouse and the 12th trading power at a rapid pace in an unprecedented short period through perseverance and ardor of the Korean people and an effective strategy to become a trading power. In 2006, Korea is expected to enter the era of $1 trillion in trade volume and $30,000 in per capital national income with its exports exceeding $300 billion in just two years since it surpassed the $200 billion in 2004. The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) will make best efforts to expand the nation's trading volume persistently this year. I am self-confident that the KITA has become a true messenger of the trading industry through powerful reform in the past several years. And I request you to have keen interest in the association's activities, extending full supports. To meet rising demand for trade and market information by global trading circles, in particular, the KITA upgraded the status of its Washington office to a headquarters in the United States and established a branch in Singapore at the end of last year. On the occasion of the expansion of the overseas organization, I hope KITA members will make the best use of the overseas networks for expansion of their export markets. Along with this, I request you to actively use trade manpower fostered through the "Trade Academy," consisting of a trade master course and an IT master course. Despite serious difficulties in getting a job, almost all graduates of the Trade Academy obtained jobs, proving their excellent ability. At the same time, the KITA will come out with effective countermeasures against the DDA negotiations whose deadline was extended until the end of this year. It will also make best efforts to maximize interest of the nation's trade industry in the FTA negotiations with ASEAN, Canada, Mexico, India and MERCOSUR. Along with this, it will push for FTA with giant economic blocs, including the United States. Finally, I sincerely hope you, traders, will have a valuable year in which you can enjoy splendid harvests.