2008 Press Releases
Ambassador Beyrle to Recognize Top-Performing Roma Entrepreneurs of 2007
PRESS RELEASE
February 25, 2008
On Tuesday, February 26 at 11:30 am in Pazardzhik, Ambassador Beyrle will present the Roma Entrepreneur 2007 Awards at a ceremony organized under the USAID Roma Micro-lending Global Development Alliance (GDA) project. The Roma Entrepreneurs 2007 Awards Ceremony will recognize the winners in a nationwide competition among Roma micro-credit clients. The criteria for participation in the competition included having a registered business, a lack of unpaid taxes and other state obligations confirmed by tax receipts, a good loan repayment history, significance of the business to the community, and the recommendation of the loan officers. The awards will go to a businesswoman from Sofia and to two businessmen from Razgrad and Pazardzhik.
The objective of the $1.1 million, 20-month USAID Roma Micro-lending project, implemented by the US NGO Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in partnership with the local micro-credit institutions Ustoi and Mikrofond, is to provide micro-lending opportunities in selected Roma disadvantaged communities, and to promote the image of the Roma entrepreneur. The project is one of the last programs funded by USAID in Bulgaria. USAID will close its Mission to Bulgaria in September 2008, after more than 17 years in the country and an investment of more than $600 million.
Media are invited to attend the ceremony, which will take place on February 26, at 11:30 in Pazardjik at the CEIBG hall, No 2, Tsar Ivan Shishman, fl.1.
U.S. Agency for International Development
Embassy of the United States of America
16, Kozyak St.,
1407 Sofia,
BULGARIA
Tel: (359-2) 937-5101
Fax: (359-2) 939-5791
www.usaid.gov
http://bulgaria.usaid.gov