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Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C)
September 20, 2006
Citigroup Microentrepreneurship Winners Named and Honored
Bangladesh - The winners of the 2006 Citigroup Microentrepreneurship Awards were named and honored at a special ceremony on September 19, 2006. The 2006 competition attracted more than 550 applications from all over the country and the judging process included several rounds of screening and field interviews.
Based on these, the Advisory Council selected five category winners.
| Winner | Category |
| Jahida Begum | Best Woman Microentrepreneur of the Year |
| Zakir Hossain | Best Microentrepreneur of the Year |
| Eco-Social Development Organization | Best Microfinance Institution of the Year |
| Rangpur Dinajpur Rural Service | Best Program for the Hardcore Poor |
| Nilufar Yasmin | Best Innovative Microbusiness of the Year |
Supported by the Citigroup Foundation (the philanthropic arm of Citigroup), the respective category winners received a cash grant to the value of US$4,000. The winner of the best innovative micro business of the year will also get to attend the 2006 Global Microcredit Summit in Canada.
The awards were presented by a number of government sector and Citigroup notables including: Dr. M. Osman Farruk MP, Minister for Education, government of Bangladesh who was the guest-of-honor; special guest Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud, leading economist and former advisor to the caretaker government; Rokia Afzal Rahman, Former Advisor to the Caretaker Government (Session Chair); Mamun Rashid, Citigroup Country Officer, Bangladesh and special guest Stacey Morse, International Private Sector Representative and Philanthropist.
Leading micro entrepreneurs, representatives from microfinance institutions and senior officials from a range of ministries, the Central Bank, embassies and the advisory council and screening committee were also in attendance.
The award program is part of a global effort managed by the Citigroup Foundation. Launched last year, in partnership with the U.N. in 30 countries, the program was a resounding success with more than 450 microentrepreneurs from Bangladesh sending in submissions and 4 winners selected.
The campaign is co-managed by Citibank, N.A. Bangladesh and local NGO, Palli-Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF). In addition, The Daily Star, Daily Prothom Alo, Channel i and Dhaka Sheraton Hotel are also involved as esteemed partner organizations.
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Citigroup
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