Russian Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards Announced

Microfinance Focus, April 23, 2010: The fifth annual Russian Citi Foundation Awards for Microentrepreneurship was recently announced by Citi Foundation, said a press release. The contest was organized by The National Partnership of Microfinance Market Stakeholders and Russian Microfinance Centre with financial support from The Citi Foundation and The U.S. Russia Centre for Entrepreneurship. The contest was supported by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation and OPORA Russia.

The goal of the contest is to encourage successful microentrepreneurs to support the most efficient organizations to deliver microfinance services across Russia and to raise awareness of the microfinance industry among the community and authorities.

“Citi Foundation has been running a contest to support microentrepreneurship in 28 countries for five years already, and it has so far awarded over 600 winners globally,” said Zdenek Turek, President of ZAO Citibank. “We are proud that every year the contest helps raise even greater public awareness of the microfinance and microentrepreneurship development issues in Russia and thus makes an important contribution to broadening the economic opportunities and living standards of the population.”

“During the crisis, small businesses clearly demonstrated that they are the most flexible in changing market conditions, they continue to be a source of innovation, and help solve employment problems,” said Mikhail Mamuta, President of the Russian Microfinance Center. “So it is particularly important to encourage the most effective private entrepreneurs. Their work goes beyond their contribution to the development and prosperity of the country; they also serve as role models for those who are just planning to start their business.”

Platinum Award in the category “Best Employer – 2009″ was awarded to Nadezhda Ivanovna Kotelevskaya. The Best Private Entrepreneur – 2009 award went to Konstantin Ivanovich Perestoronin from Kirov region.The First Award in the category “Best Entrepreneur – 2009″ was awarded to Yuriy Prokopyevich Melnichenko. Yuriy founded OOO Sokskiy Hleb in Samara region in 2002.

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