2007 Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards Program Launches in Vietnam

Citi
Citi, the leading global financial services company, has some 200 million customer accounts anddoes business in more than 100 countries, providing consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, and wealth management. Major brand names under Citi's trademark red arc include Citibank, CitiFinancial, Primerica, Citi Smith Barney and Banamex. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com or www.citi.com.

Citi Foundation
The Citi Foundation supports organizations that help people improve their lives, businesses to grow, and communities to prosper around the world. The Citi Foundation focuses its grants primarily in three areas: financial education, educating the next generation, and building communities and entrepreneurs. Additional information can be found at http://www.citigroupfoundation.com/.

Vietnam Microfinance Working Group
Functioning as a key activity within the Microfinance and Development Center (M&D), Vietnam Microfinance Working Group (MFWG) was founded to create a forum for microfinance practitioners to share experiences with each other, come together to debate relevant issues, and speak to policy makers with a unified voice. Founded in 2004 as an informal organization under the VUFO-NGO Resource Center, according to the Working Group Guidelines approved by the Resource Centre Steering Committee in April 2003, the MFWG is open to all individuals and organizations interested in microfinance in Vietnam.

Microfinance and Development Center (M&D)
Microfinance and Development Center (M&D) is a Vietnamese non-governmental organization which operates self-sufficiently and non-profitably and works to support disadvantaged groups in Vietnam. M&D was founded by a group of committed development practitioners and officially established on 20 July 2005 according to the Decision No 21/2005/QD-HH of Vietnam Private Universities Association. M&D assumed on a voluntary basis the role of Secretariat to the MFWG Group.


	Printer Friendly Page		Press Release in Vietnamese FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) July 17, 2007 2007 Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards Program Launches in Vietnam Hanoi – As part of Citi's ongoing commitment to the field of microfinance, we are pleased to announce that the Citi Foundation will support the Microentrepreneurship Awards program in Vietnam for the first time this year, highlighting the achievements of some of the most innovative microentrepreneurs in the country. The Citi Foundation is honored to launch the awards in Vietnam in cooperation with the Microfinance and Development Center. In addition to recognizing microentrepreneurs, the Awards in Vietnam will honor outstanding microfinance institutions and their credit officers as well. In 2006, the Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards Program was successfully implemented in 23 countries, and in 2007 it is expanding to 27 countries. The program's greatest success continues to be increasing global awareness of the important role that microentrepreneurs play in their local economies, and the significance of microfinance as a poverty alleviation tool. The goal of the program is (i) to support micro-entrepreneurs, by increasing their awareness of how they may benefit from microfinance products and services, (ii) to put the spotlight on local micro-entrepreneurs who are helping to lift the economic fortunes of their families and their communities, generating greater opportunities to bring capital into their developing economies, (iii) to create the next generation of microfinance networks, comprised of political and financial leaders, opinion shapers, students, practitioners, and communities. In Vietnam, participating microentrepreneurs will present their businesses to microfinance experts and leaders from the public, private and academic sectors. The advisory board includes 14 members from international and local microfinance NGOs, as well as researchers and regulators. Ms. Nguyen Bich Vuong, Director of the Microfinance and Development Center said, "The Vietnam Microfinance Working Group is honored to partner with the Citi Foundation to launch the Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards 2007 in Vietnam. It is our pleasure that microfinance has received due attention and recognition as one of the most powerful tools for alleviating poverty, eliminating hunger and developing the economy. We hope that the program will become an annual event so that the microfinance sector in Vietnam will have on-going support and incentives to grow." Applications will be accepted from July 17 until September 30, 2007. The competition and judging process will continue through to early December when the winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in Hanoi. Prizes will be awarded in categories ranging from VND3 Million to VND 6 Million. Charly Madan, Citi Country Officer for Vietnam said, "Citi is proud to implement this program in Vietnam for the first time. We recognize the importance of microentrepreneurs in job creation, self-empowerment and economic development. We believe that this Award will adequately reward the efforts and talents of excellent microentrepreneurs as well as further strengthen the influence of microfinance in the developing economy of Vietnam." More information about the Citi Microenterpreneurship Awards – Vietnam 2007 is available from the Award's Vietnam Country Team, telephone (84-4) 513 1853, e-mail . # # # Citi Citi, the leading global financial services company, has some 200 million customer accounts anddoes business in more than 100 countries, providing consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, and wealth management. Major brand names under Citi's trademark red arc include Citibank, CitiFinancial, Primerica, Citi Smith Barney and Banamex. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com or www.citi.com. Citi Foundation The Citi Foundation supports organizations that help people improve their lives, businesses to grow, and communities to prosper around the world. The Citi Foundation focuses its grants primarily in three areas: financial education, educating the next generation, and building communities and entrepreneurs. Additional information can be found at http://www.citigroupfoundation.com/. Vietnam Microfinance Working Group Functioning as a key activity within the Microfinance and Development Center (M&D), Vietnam Microfinance Working Group (MFWG) was founded to create a forum for microfinance practitioners to share experiences with each other, come together to debate relevant issues, and speak to policy makers with a unified voice. Founded in 2004 as an informal organization under the VUFO-NGO Resource Center, according to the Working Group Guidelines approved by the Resource Centre Steering Committee in April 2003, the MFWG is open to all individuals and organizations interested in microfinance in Vietnam. Microfinance and Development Center (M&D) Microfinance and Development Center (M&D) is a Vietnamese non-governmental organization which operates self-sufficiently and non-profitably and works to support disadvantaged groups in Vietnam. M&D was founded by a group of committed development practitioners and officially established on 20 July 2005 according to the Decision No 21/2005/QD-HH of Vietnam Private Universities Association. M&D assumed on a voluntary basis the role of Secretariat to the MFWG Group.