Batman Branch Of Turkish Grameen Microcredit Project Opened

BATMAN - A branch of Turkish Grameen Microcredit Project was opened in Kozluk town of southeastern city of Batman with the participation of 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Winner Grameen Bank's Vice President Dipal Chandra Barua.
Financed by Australian company PEMI that explores oil in Batman since 2005, 15,500 YTL (one US dollar equals 1.39 YTL) of loans were granted to 45 women from 11 villages within the framework of the project.
Grameen Bank's Vice President Dipal Chandra Barua, who took the floor at the inauguration ceremony, said the word Grameen means "village".
"I believe that this is a quite proper and convenient place for reduction of poverty," said Barua.
Barua said they grant nearly 1 billion USD of loans in a year as microcredits and holders of these loans are all women.
On the other hand, Australian Ambassador to Turkey Jean Dunn, who also participated in the ceremony, said she congratulates women who obtain credits from the project.
Director General of the Australian company PEMI Gerry McGann said PEMI is the first private sector enterprise that launched microcredit project in Turkey. McGann said they aim at contributing maximization of welfare in places where they operate.