International Year of Microcredit Conference 2005, Melbourne, Australia

Message from the Prime Minister of Australia

The Australian Government warmly welcomes the 2005 International Year of Microcredit. Microfinance is a cost-effective way of increasing the economic opportunities available to poor entrepreneurs to enable them to improve their own living standards and that of their families.
Australia's aid programme has funded microfinance activities in Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Bangladesh. One project alone has provided finance for self-employment and other income-generation activities to almost 23,000 poor households in Bangladesh. Making financial services, including credit and savings, more accessible to poor households has led to increased employment and household incomes.
I am pleased to support the United Nations Association of Australia International Year of Microcredit Conference. I commend the initiative and wish the conference organisers and participants every success in promoting microfinance as an effective took in the struggle against poverty.

The Honourable John Howard, MP

Invitation from the Conference Convenor

At the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000, all member states were called upon to work towards the goal of halving, by 2015, the proportion of the world's people (currently 22 per cent) whose income is less than one dollar a day. In proclaiming 2005 as the International Year of Microcredit, the General Assembly have recognized the important role that microcredit can play in the alleviation of poverty, when combined with savings and related financial services.
In support of this International Year the United Nations Association of Australia (Victoria) is holding a two day International Conference on August 10-11, 2005, at the Sofitel Hotel in Melbourne.
The Conference entitled 'Towards an End to Global Poverty: Empowering Communities and Individuals through Financial Inclusion' will provide an opportunity to share the practical lessons and discuss the wider Issues for business, governments and NGOs with leading international experts and delegates from both the developed and developing world.
A dynamic and creative conference program has been constructed to ensure equal relevance for both Australian and international delegates.
It gives me great pleasure to invite you to join me for this very important conference.

Patricia Collett
Conference Convenor