Citi Foundation sponsors Asia Microfinance Forum 2010

As the lead sponsor of the Asia Microfinance Forum 2010, the Citi Foundation is helping to assemble some of the world's leading microfinance practitioners, policymakers, financiers, academics and advocates in Colombo to foster discussion towards building more scalable and sustainable microfinance and microenterprise.

Entitled "Financial Inclusion - Achieving Asia's Potential," the Forum will be held from today to October 15.

The Citi Foundation has been involved with the microfinance sector for over 25 years, having granted more than $ 80 million in support of 365 microfinance and microenterprise programs in 60 countries over the past 11 years.

The Foundation uses its enormous resources to help build the financial framework and knowledge base that makes these initiatives possible.

It does this through its charitable funding programs.

The Citi Foundation has its presence that includes over 16,000 offices in 140 countries. Citi is primarily involved in facilitating the commercial transactions that make business possible around the world and is keenly aware of the importance of extending these services to all socioeconomic groups.

Through the Citi Foundation, Citi is invested in improving global living standards, knowing that its financial health is dependent on that of the communities it is a part of.

The Citi Foundation's goals include enhancing access to financial services for the poor, which allows these individuals to increase their income levels, build sustainable businesses, and reduce their financial vulnerability.

By supporting innovative approaches to these issues, the Foundation hopes to empower these individuals to become economically self-sufficient, thereby improving their respective societies.

The Citi Foundation's commitment to innovation is mirrored by Citi Sri Lanka's operational philosophy. Beginning local operations in 1979, Citi Sri Lanka is the country's third largest foreign bank and has blazed new trails in terms of cash management solutions, trade financing, corporate finance, and risk management.

The Bank also provides a total range of financial products and services to its clients, which include multinationals, the Government, state-owned entities, and large local corporate organizations.

By acting as lead sponsor of the Asia Microfinance Forum 2010, the Citi Foundation, together with Hatton National Bank, the event's local host, is hoping to spread the knowledge and best-practices that help sustain the world's microfinance institutions and entrepreneurs.