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Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) since its
inception in May 1990 has been working as an apex organization of
microcredit funding and capacity building aimed at eradicating poverty
by providing microcredit to the poor through various Micro Finance
Institutions (MFIs) in Bangladesh. In English PKSF means “Rural
Employment Support Foundation”. Over the years, PKSF has expanded
its operation to urban areas also. Its vision is to alleviate poverty
and improve the quality of life among the poor, the landless and
assetless people by providing them with resources for creation of
employment to enhance their economic condition. PKSF reaches its
target groups through its partner organizations; it does not lend
money directly to its target people.
PKSF organized the Asia Pacific Region Microcredit Summit Meeting
of Councils (APRMS) from February 16-19, 2004. More than 1200 participants
from 47 countries attended the Meeting, which turned out to be the
biggest ever Regional Meeting on microcredit. Begum Khaleda Zia,
the Hon’ble Prime Minister of the People’s Republic
of Bangladesh, inaugurated the Summit. The opening ceremony was
also addressed, among others, by Her Majesty Queen Sofia of Spain
and Madam Zanele Mbeki, the First Lady of South Africa, Prof. Muhammad
Yunus, Managing Director of Grameen Bank, Bangladesh, Mr. M. Saifur
Rahman, Hon’ble Minister for Finance and Planning, Bangladesh.
Sheikh Hasina, Hon’ble Leader of the Opposition in Parliament,
Bangladesh and Dr. M. Osman Faruk, Minister for Education, Bangladesh,
addressed the closing ceremony, among others.
This report contains mainly the abstract of the deliberations of
the Panelists of the plenary sessions. It also contains the speeches
delivered by the speakers in the opening as well as the closing
ceremony, along with the message of the UN Secretary General sent
on this occasion.
I hope that this report will enrich the existing knowledge in the
field of microcredit and supplement the efforts to eradicate poverty
worldwide.
Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed
Managing Director, PKSF
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