November 18, 2004 will officially launch the International Year of Microcredit 2005.

To launch the Year of Microcredit, an effort has been undertaken by Harvard University Business School students to organize microentrepreneur awards and to have winning microfinance clients ring the "opening bells" of stock exchanges around the world.

Countries around the world are making preparations to observe this groundbreaking day and Year, and also to undertake their regional and international activities.

The secretariat of the Coordinating Committee for the Year is planning events to celebrate the launch at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, as described in more detail below. Please note the programme is not final and may be amended.

Official website: http://www.yearofmicrocredit.org