The Family Bank has been established in Bahrain in 2009 with a view to provide collateral-free microcredit to the needy families of Bahrain. It will also act as a wholesale fund to support the non-government organizations providing microcredit in Bahrain. Through its first loan disbursement on 3rd July, 2009, Grameen Carso (GC) initiated microcredit program in Mexico. It is a result of collaboration between the Fundacion Carlos Slim and Grameen Trust. Though Grameen Trust has been serving the poor in India through its partners since inception, the MIG-Kerala project started operation in Kerala in 2009 under its direct implementation program to re-establish that it is possible to serve the poorest women with collateral free microcredit and at the same time develop sustainable programs.

There has been good progress in the registration process of Songpan Aba Grameen Microcredit Co. Ltd. in Sichuan and Grameen Shangdu Microcredit Co. Ltd. in Inner Mongolia, China in 2009. The process is expected to be completed soon.

Latin American Regional Microcredit Summit 2009 took place at Cartagena, Colombia in June 2009. In the summit, a special session was held on "Grameen in Latin America: Experience Sharing" in which speakers shared their views and experiences of implementing Grameen projects in Latin American countries. Professor Muhammad Yunus presided over this session. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Foundacion Luis Carlos Samiento Angulo and Grameen Trust at the summit for the establishment of Grameen Aval Colombia.

Grameen Trust has been implementing "Project Dignity" since 2006 through its partner organizations in Bangladesh. The project provides interest and collateral free loans to the beggars for their rehabilitation in the society with dignity. In 2009, Concerned Women for Family Development (CWFD), an implementing partner of Project Dignity, organized an exhibition of products made by beggar members for encouraging them to be more creative and productive so that they can earn more and live with honor and dignity in the society.

In 2009, Grameen Trust organized two international dialogue programs in Bangladesh, two fact-finding missions in India and Scotland, eleven monitoring visits in U.S.A, India, Indonesia and Bangladesh, two training programs in Indonesia and Bangladesh, one audit visit in Indonesia and technical assistance to CFPA in China. In this year, GT also signed Memorandum of Understandings with the State of Caldas, Colombia, JET Li One Foundation, China and Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland for Grameen operation.

From its modest beginning in 1989, Grameen Trust has traveled far and wide. It provided financial and technical assistance to 146 institutions in 38 countries. It has eight direct implementation (BOT/BOO/BOM) projects in Costa Rica, India, Indonesia, Kosovo, Mexico, Turkey, U.S.A, Zambia and one joint collaboration project operational in Guatemala. Through these projects, GT is serving about7.9 million poor people in different countries.

Despite facing problems in terms of legal and regulatory environment, language and cultural differences and also natural hazards, the worldwide expansion of GT program continues. The tireless efforts of the staff of Grameen Trust, commitment and continuous support of its partners, donors and well wishers has helped GT to reach this far. We extend our deep gratitude and appreciation to all of them.


Professor H.I.Latifee
Managing Director