The Bank of Valletta has announced that it has sold over 40,000 euro mini-kits during the first six days after these were put on the market. Concurrently, sales of retail euro starter kits reached the 15,000 mark. "The response from the general public and the retail community is outstanding and we can now say that there is a strong momentum in the country as the countdown continues towards welcoming the euro on the 1st January 2008," said John Cassar Torreggiani, Executive Head responsible for the Euro Changeover Programme at Bank of Valletta.

Commenting on the strong demand for euro minikits, Mr. Cassar Torreggiani said, "We are delighted to note the strong response from the public with thousands of people coming to BOV to purchase euro minikits. This shows that the Maltese people are eager to familiarize themselves with the new euro coins now that we have less than 15 days left till the adoption of the euro. As the Official Partner Bank of the NECC, we are pleased to be playing such a leading role in putting the new euro coins into circulation."

The business community is also busy gearing itself up to welcome the new currency. BOV said that with the sale of 15,000 retail starter kits, it has fully met its target projections and that any further sales are now over and above what was planned. "The fact that we have reached our target for retail starter kit sales fifteen days before the adoption of the new currency is a clear indication of the strong preparations being undertaken by the business community to make the transition to the new currency as smooth as possible," concluded Mr. Cassar Torreggiani.