AFRO-NETS> PlaNet Bank announcement

[Arnaud Ventura <a-ventura@usa.net>]

PlaNet Bank announcement
------------------------

Dear Sir or Madam:

We would like to announce the PlaNet Bank initiative, the network-based 
organisation to fight poverty, using the Internet as its supporting me-
dium.

This project initiated by Dr. Jacques Attali has led to the formation 
of a team co-ordinated by Arnaud Ventura. In the last months it re-
ceived top-level international support and we now want to extend our 
networks of partners as well as our team.

You will find below the Abstract Presentation of The PlaNet Bank ini-
tiative. Please have a look and contact us soon to join. Anybody, any 
organisation can join us, just let us know.

We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,

ARNAUD VENTURA
mailto:aventura@planetbank.org
http://www.planetbank.org

--
In the last decades, poverty has become one of the greatest challenges 
of this end of century. Micro Finance Institution (MFI) and Non Govern-
mental Organisations (NGO) have been trying to address this challenge 
implementing microcredit programmes and small projects. At the same 
time Internet has evolved to become the largest network on earth trans-
forming the planet in a Global Village.

The PlaNet Bank is a new International Financial Institution that aims 
at promoting fair development by supporting microcredit and micro-
projects' implementation. The PlaNet Bank will develop its products and 
services not only to support directly microfinance institution (MFI) 
and small initiatives but also to bridge the gap between the tradi-
tional financial sector and the microfinance one.

The PlaNet Bank operations will be driven by a new concept: the net-
work-based institution. It will operate on Internet, providing its 
services and products over the network. It will also use Internet as a 
work platform, involving several teams of experts that through net-
working will participate to the development of the bank.

The PlaNet Bank functioning objectives will be efficiency, rapidity of 
reaction and transparency. As a virtual bank, the PlaNet Bank will be 
ruled by a set of rigorous procedures that will allow it to be most ef-
ficient. Operating on the Internet with the latest technologies avail-
able, rapidity of reaction and transparency are inherent to its con-
cept.

The PlaNet Bank products will be available world-wide. In its first 
year, it will concentrate its efforts on Africa and poor children 
(loans to women, etc.).

The PlaNet Bank first main products & services will be:

* Information about microfinance: Global Virtual Library 
* Training for micro credit institutions: Online University
* Rating and quality certification of microfinance institutions 
* Financial products (loans, guarantees)

The PlaNet Bank will start operating as a Foundation. Its initial capi-
tal will be provided by donations and contributions by public and in-
ternational institutions, private sponsors and general public. Its cus-
tomers will also take part in its capital. Profits from the Bank will 
be fully reinvested to allow the bank to broaden its reach to a wider 
range of clients.

A fundamental tenet of the organisation will be the establishment of 
partnerships. The Bank will work with technical, commercial, informa-
tion and expert partners. Additionally, alliances will group the Bank 
with other organisations working in the same field (World Bank, Inter-
national Organisations etc.) which will use the PlaNet Bank and its ex-
pertise as new tools to complete their programs.

An initiative of Dr. Jacques Attali*, the PlaNet Bank has already re-
ceived top-level international support. Professor Yunus at the Grameen 
Bank, Mr. Rocard European Deputy and Chairman of the Committee of De-
velopment and Co-operation (European parliament) and Mr. Ponzellini 
Vice-President of the European Investment Bank have already accepted to 
be members of the Board of the Foundation.

The PlaNet Bank is by its own nature and concept a new challenge. It 
aims by using the latest technologies of information, at addressing a 
much greater one, probably one of the greatest challenges of this end 
of century: poverty.

--
* Professor, writer, special adviser to Francois Mitterrand, founder 
and first president of EBRD, president of an international consulting 
firm.


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