Citi is inviting nominations for the 2012 Citi Micro Enterprise Awards.

Now in its ninth year, the awards program has been an avenue to highlight the dynamic enterprise development environment in India. This year, the awards include the best Community Micro Enterprise of the Year, the Best Rural Community Micro Enterprise, the Best Urban Community Micro Enterprise and the Most Innovative Community Enterprise, under the enterprise category. In addition, the special Innovative Livelihoods Enterprise Promoter award will honor the significant role played by organizations in nurturing and promoting micro enterprises.

Citi India, with grant support from Citi Foundation, USA, has partnered with Access Development Services, to run the 2012 Citi Micro Enterprise Awards, which aims to identify, recognize and honor enterprises and promoters of such enterprises who have overcome poverty to exhibit superior performance, create jobs and add value to society.

The awards will include cash prizes totaling INR 43 lakhs and will also invest in building the skill and knowledge of the members of the honored micro enterprises through customized trainings and event sponsorships totaling an additional INR 20 lakhs.

More than 7,800 micro-entrepreneurs, from around the country, have participated in the eight previous awards programs and the 86 winners have been felicitated.

NGOs, MFIs, banks and other organizations working in the sector can nominate community micro enterprises that they support or work with via the application form on www.cmea.in or send an email to info@cmea.in.

The last date for submission of entries is August 31, 2012.

About Citi Foundation:

The Citi Foundation is committed to the economic empowerment and financial inclusion of individuals and families, particularly those in need, in the communities where we work so that they can improve their standard of living. Globally, the Citi Foundation targets its strategic giving to priority focus areas: Microfinance, Enterprise Development, Youth Education and Livelihoods, and Financial Capability and Asset Building. The Citi Foundation works with its partners in Microfinance and Enterprise Development to support environmental programs and innovations. Additional information can be found at www.citifoundation.com.

About Citi

Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides 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, transaction services, and wealth management. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://new.citi.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi

Committed to India for over 110 years, Citi takes pride in being a premier locally-embedded financial institution backed by an unmatched international network. Citi's presence in India spans 42 Citibank branches across 30 cities and over 700 ATMs. With capital invested of around US$4 billion, Citi is the single largest foreign direct investor in the financial services industry in India and offers consumers and institutions a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, and wealth management. Citi is an employer of choice to approximately 7200 employees in India. Citi's franchise in India includes businesses such as equity brokerage, equities distribution, private banking (Citi Private Bank) and alternate investments and private equity (CVCI). In line with our commitment to make a positive difference in the communities where we work, Citi India's citizenship program targets its strategic efforts in the priority focus areas of Financial Capability & Asset Building, Microfinance, Enterprise Development, and Youth, Education & Livelihoods. Additional information may be found at http://www.online.citibank.co.in/press-room/citi-in-india.htm