OREANDA-NEWS. February 26, 2008. Citi Foundation provides a USD 150 000 Grant to Integra Russia to develop a Micro-Enterprise Development Program for Women at Risk, reported the press-centre of Citibank.

Non-profit partnership "Integra" receives a two-year grant of USD 150 000 from Citi Foundation for micro-enterprise and microfinance development in Russia.

The program is designed to support women who lack support other than what they can provide for their family. As part of the program, participating women receive a 3-day training program on business planning and financial management. At the end of the training, best business plans are chosen to receive a micro loan for developing their project. In additional, Integra offers its members a diverse range of consulting services across business areas.

Micro-enterprise development program for women at risk is one of Integra's core activities. Citi Foundation has been supporting this program for three consecutive years.

Egor Kuchumov, Executive Director of Integra said: "Our mission is to help our members build their own businesses in a professional, sustainable and competitive way so they can then become "islands of integrity, honesty and justice" and take part in a society reform. Partnership with Citi enables us to be more efficient in our work and achieve our goals. We are happy to continue cooperate with Citi for the next two years."

Victoria Kaskova, Head of Community Relations with ZAO "Citibank" noted: "Citi Russia is deeply committed to making a significant contribution to local community support. Microentrepreneurship in particular is an integral part Citi's presence in the Russian market.

Only for the recent four years Citi Foundation granted over USD 650 000 to support microentrepreneurship in Russia. We are glad to watch the evident results of our cooperation with Integra. Thanks to its program women do arrive in life and successfully provide themselves as well as their families."

During 2007 using grants from Citi Foundation Integra conducted over 70 consulting meetings and approx. 7 business seminars, more than 260 people took part in special trainings in Moscow and Region as well as in other Russian cities. During the whole period lots of specialists from ZAO "Citibank" took part in the program on a volunteering basis and held trainings on management, marketing and HR management. Experience and expertise of Citibank employees were highly appreciated and positively accepted by the program participants.