Citi Announces Winners of Microentrepreneurship Awards in Russia

Citi
Citi, the leading global financial services company, has some 200 million customer accounts and does 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, Smith Barney and Banamex. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com or www.citi.com.


	Printer Friendly Page		FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) November 15, 2007 Citi Announces Winners of Microentrepreneurship Awards in Russia Her Majesty, Princess Maxima of the Netherlands, UN Advisor on Microfinance Development Attends Moscow – On November 14, 2007 the official Citi Russian Microenrepreneurship Awards ceremony was held in the Center for International Trade congress hall. The goal of the Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards in Russia is to promote awareness of microfinance as an effective tool in helping individuals become economically self-sufficient through microenterprise. Mark Robinson, President Citibank Russia, mentioned in his welcome speech: "Citi remains deeply committed to making a positive and significant contribution to the wider community, and we are proud of our longstanding support of microfinance development in Russia. Citi increased the Platinum Award to RUB 100 000 this year, and the total award fund more than doubled in comparison with last year. Citi warmly congratulates all of the winners of this year's awards program, and we look forward to continuing to be a key supporter of microfinance in Russia." There were more than 150 nominated from 45 regions in Russia this year. Participants of the project were entrepreneurs who managed to establish their own social significant businesses due to microfinancing. For example, Valeriy Yurievich Postelnik, one of 2007 laureates, arranged a garbage disposal business in Amursk. Robert Khazievich Jalalov from Udmurtia built his own bakery, substantially improving bread quality for local residents. The winners were announced with participation of representatives of State Duma, Federation Council, Association of Russian Banks, Chamber of Commerce of Russian Federation, Citi, Russian Small and Medium Enterprises Association (OPORA), Russian Microfinance Center, and the National Partnership of Microfinancing Market Participants. The ceremony was attended by Her Majesty, Princess Maxima of the Netherlands, UN Advisor on Microfinance Development and Russia government officials: Alexey Savatyugin, Ministry of Finance, Head of Financial Policy Department; Vladimir Kostrukov, Head of Secretariat of the Federation Council; Victor Yermakov, Chairman of Small Business Committee, Chamber of Commerce of Russian Federation; and Vladimir Chistyukhin, Deputy Head of Bank's Monitoring and Regulatory Department, Central Bank of Russia. Following finalists became laureates in 4 nominations: The best individual entrepreneur Among non-trade business: Vera Nikolaevna Sleptsova – Yakutsk Among trade business: Robert Khazievich Jalalov – Izhevsk Microentrepreneur – the best employer Among non-trade business: Valeriy Yurievich Postelnik – Amursk Among trade business: Alexander Viktorovich Bogdanov – Chelyabinsk Most effective microfinance program, supporting entrepreneurship: Credit Cooperative "Pervy Dalnevostochny" – Khabarovsk Best credit expert: Olga Mikhailovna Tihonova – Cheboksary # # # Citi Citi, the leading global financial services company, has some 200 million customer accounts and does 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, Smith Barney and Banamex. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com or www.citi.com.