WHO:

Guest speakers include Her Royal Highness, Princess Mathilde of Belgium, Emissary to the International Year of Microcredit and Elizabeth Littlefield, CEO of Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP).

WHAT:

Georgetown University hosts a half-day conference exploring the future, challenges and innovations in microfinance. A joint effort between students of the McDonough School of Business, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service and Georgetown Public Policy Institute, the conference aims to connect students and policymakers in an educational forum about the field of microfinance.

WHEN:

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

1:00 p.m., The Future of Microfinance
Opening remarks by Elizabeth Littlefield, CEO of CGAP.

1:50 p.m., Challenges in the Industry
Moderator Tom Easton of The Economist hosts a panel discussion with Gil Crawford, Warburg Pincus; Asil Demirguc, World Bank; Charles Riemenschneider, FAO; and Lawrence Yanovitch, Georgetown University.

3:00 p.m., Innovations in Microfinance
Moderator Rhonda Schaffler of the UN Capital Development Fund hosts a discussion with Robert Annibale, Citigroup; Steven Bernstein, U.S. Department of Treasury; Michael Eber, Grameen Foundation; and Ivan Mancillas, Compartamos.

4:00 p.m., The Year of the Microcredit
Her Royal Highness, Princess Mathilde of Belgium, Emissary to the International Year of Microcredit, will deliver closing remarks.

WHERE:

Bunn Intercultural Center Auditorium
Georgetown University
37th & O Streets, NW
Washington, D.C. 20057

SPONSORS:

Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business, Net Impact, Microenterprise Development Association, and the UN Development Fund

COVERAGE:

Media planning to attend must RSVP to Andrea Sarubbi at 202-687-4328. Press will need to present valid credentials on campus.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

For additional information, a complete release is available at: http://www1.georgetown.edu/explore/news/?ID=2075.