E-bulletin, April 2010

Russian Delegation's Visit to the Republic of the Philippines.

On April 6-11, 2010 the Russian delegation invited by the Central Bank of the Philippines visited the Republic of the Philippines. The visit was organized by the National Partnership of Microfinance Market Stakeholders (NAMMS). This visit is timely since nowadays one of the Russian economy priorities is modernization and creation of effective medium for development of innovations. Among other issues the important one is the development of such directions as electronic services of the state, electronic payment systems, and electronic money, telecommunications. Meanwhile, several state legislative initiatives in the sphere of development and regulation of these spheres are on the initial stage now. In this connection it is crucially important to study successful international experience. The Republic of the Philippines is one of the acknowledged leaders in the sphere of providing distant financial services for population using the possibilities of mobile and Internet connection providers.

During the visit the meetings with the top-management: of the  Central Bank of the Philippines (Governor Mr. Amando M. Tetangco Jr. and Deputy Governor Mr.Nestor Espenilla);  Inclusive Finance Advocacy Department, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Finance Specialist Group, Core Information Technology Supervisory Group of the  Central Bank of the Philippines; Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines; Microfinance Council of the Philippines; companies-providers of mobile banking services (Smart and Globe) were held.

During the visit the delegation participants had a possibility to grasp the ideology and technologies of microfinance on the Philippines, and also to get an experience of using mobile banking, and operating mechanisms of electronic money. 

The National Partnership of Microfinance Market Stakeholders, Russian Microfinance Center and Citi Awarded Best Microentrepreneurs in Russia.

On April 21, 2010 the National Partnership of Microfinance Market Stakeholders, Russian Microfinance Center and Citi Foundation announced the results of the annual Russian Citi Foundation Awards for Microentrepreneurship. Winners of the fifth anniversary awards for 2009 were named in the following categories: Best Individual Entrepreneur; Best Employer in Microentrepreneurship; Best Credit Expert; Best Microfinance Organization; Anti-Crisis Innovations; Socially Responsible Business; and Successful Start.

The contest was organized by The National Partnership of Microfinance Market Stakeholders and Russian Microfinance Center with financial support from The Citi Foundation and The U.S. Russia Center for Entrepreneurship. The contest was supported by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation and OPORA Russia.

“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.”

Training News.

 On April 12-14 within the framework of the project «Complex Microfinance System Building in Krasnoyarsk Territory, including Credit Cooperation Development», implemented with the support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the seminar «Legal and Accounting Aspects of Activity of the Rural Credit Consumer Cooperatives (RCCC)» was held in Krasnoyarsk.

During the training the basics of the accounting in the rural credit consumer cooperatives were presented and the answers for the most topical questions about the peculiar features of the accountancy in RCCC were provided. Besides, the RMC experts covered wide variety of issues, connected with the legal bases of rural credit consumer cooperatives activity.

On April 19-23, 2010 the training for trainers on the project of raising financial literacy of the low-income families “Plan Your Future” was successfully held in Yekaterinburg. The training was organized by the Russian Microfinance Center and supported by the US Russia Foundation for Economic Advancement and the Rule of Law (USRF). 9 representatives of organizations - partners: of municipals funds for entrepreneurs and organizations support, promoting entrepreneurship in Sverdlovsk Oblast participated in the training.

On April 26-27, 2010 Russian Microfinance Center delivered a training «Loan Officer Training» in Tyumen. The Tyumen Oblast SME Development Fund was the co-organizer. The training participants were the Fund employees and the representatives of its municipal departments. The training «Loan Officer Training» allows to investigate the methods and practice of microfinance loans issuing, explore the ways of raising the profitability and risks management, and also the ways of raising the efficiency and quality of the loan officer's and the organization's performance.

 
ANNOUNCE:

 Russian Microfinance Center announces the new training «Managing Delinquencies». Within the framework of this 3-day training the participants will learn the instruments of delinquencies collection, find out how to build the system of work with delinquencies, how to interact with the court bailiffs service and other organizations. The training is based on the best MFIs practices. Within the framework of the training considerable amount of time is dedicated to the participants' questions. Hurry up to order the corporative training for your organization!

 Please, contact Russian Microfinance Center Training and Consulting Director Maria Pryamkova at: mpryamkova@rmcenter.ru about enrolling in RMC training courses.

The international conference «Experience, problems, and interaction perspectives of microfinance institutions system with the small entrepreneurship at the Far East of Russia and Asia-Pacific region countries».

 The Interregional Association of Credit Unions of Far East and Transbaikalia in cooperation with the National Partnership of Microfinance Market Stakeholders (NAMMS), Russian Microfinance Center (RMC) will deliver the international conference «Experience, problems, and interaction perspectives of microfinance institutions system with the small entrepreneurship at the Far East of Russia and Asia-Pacific region countries» on July 2-3, 2010 in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.

 The conference is delivered with the support of the Khabarovsk Kray Government, Komsomolsk-on-Amur Administration, Association of Asian Confederation of Credit Unions and the National union of organizations of financial mutual support.

At the conference it is expected to elicit the main peculiar features and directions of microfinance sector in the Asia-Pacific region development, cover the positive experience of various international and Russian organizations in the sphere of microcrediting for small business and unprotected population, discuss the problems of their further development, accept recommendations for the subjects of the Russian Federation Far East and Transbaikalia on pivotal improvement of the situation in this sphere.

 More detailed information about the conference, invitation and application form are available at the Russian Microfinance Center website at: http://www.rmcenter.ru/projects/conferences/naamure.php.

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