The Third National Conference “Microfinance in Russia Today and Tomorrow: Trends in Growth” that will take place in Moscow, 2-3 December 2004.

The conference will address issues of performance and growth of the microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Russia. Continuing growth and increasing competition requires MFIs to adapt higher levels of transparency and efficiencies in order to remain competitive.

The Conference is conducted in accordance with the Russian Microfinance Support Sector Program, implemented by Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI) with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Conference initiator:

The Russian Microfinance Center (RMC) was established in July 2002 to support the financial and social development of the microfinance sector in Russia. The RMC conducts activities focused on providing services and information to the members of the microfinance sector, as well as those supporting the sector, enabling them to integrate into the formal economy and reach selfsustainability.

Conference highlights:

The Conference agenda was designed to meet the voiced needs of Russia’s microfinance sector.

The conference agenda will consist of simultaneous discussions, training and plenary sessions as well as case studies and workshops. Participants will have an opportunity to take part in sessions devoted to the following topics:

• Building Russian Standards in Microfinance Based on International Practices and

Experience;

• Successful Models of Attracting Deposits for a Credit Cooperative;

• Personnel Management;

• Investment Opportunities: Investors’ Fair for MFIs;

• Internal audit and Financial Control;

• Integration of Microfinance into Formal Economic Sector;

• Trends in Russian Legislation on MFIs’ Activities;

• Application and Use of Loan Guarantee and Collateral Instruments in Microfinance;

• Social Aspects of Microfinance: How to Measure Social Impact;

• Bank Models of Microfinance and Interaction between commercial banks and MFIs;

• Strategic Marketing: Product Development and Client Retention;

• Russian Microfinance Market Profile: Presentation of Preliminary Results;

• Criteria for Successful Credit Unions;

Russian is the working language of the conference:

Plenary meetings and most of the sessions, except for study-case sessions, will be provided with simultaneous translation into English.

Speakers:

Russian and international microfinance experts, commercial bankers, lawyers, Russian policy makers, and other microfinance specialists involved with microfinance

RMC web-site: www.rmcenter.ru.

The Conference will take place at the President-Hotel (24 B. Yakimanka str. 119134, Moscow, Russia. tel.: (7-095) 239-3800, 238-7303; fax: (7-095) 230-2318, 230-7813; web: http://www.president-hotel.ru.