2008 Citi Micro-Entrepreneurship Awards were held in Vietam

The 2008 Citi Micro-Entrepreneurship Awards were held on December 1st in Hanoi to recognize the exceptional achievements of 51 micro-entrepreneurs and 15 credit officers from various different provinces across Viet Nam.

The award ceremony was attended by former Vice State President Truong My Hoa.

The 2008 Citi Micro-entrepreneurship Awards program aims to promote micro-entrepreneurship and increase awareness of microfinance, which provides the poor with access to basic financial services, such as small loans that can help them start their own businesses.

The award winners were selected on the basis of their success in developing models in sustainable micro-enterprise using one or more small loans which helped the poor increase their income and improved their living conditions within their communities.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Mr. Brett Krause, Citi Country Officer for Viet Nam said: “These awards allow the winners’ great achievements to be publicly acknowledged and offer and opportunity that others can be inspired to follow in their footsteps, and take advantage of microfinance to move themselves out of poverty.”

Mrs. Nguyen Hong Ha, acting Chairwoman of the Vietnamese Microfinance Working Group said: “The Citi Micro-Entrepreneurship Awards in Vietnam allow us to highlight the positive contributions made by the Vietnamese microfinance industry to alleviate poverty, as well as contribute to sustainable socio-economic development in the country.”

This is the second year that the Citi Micro-Entrepreneurship Awards have been held in Viet Nam, following the success of the 2007 Awards. The Awards were funded by the Citi Foundation, and organized by the Vietnamse Microfinance Working Group in collaboration with the State Bank of Viet Nam. (CPV)