In Berlin on Tuesday President of the Republic Tarja Halonen was given the Grameen Foundation’s Humanitarian Award for her activities to reduce global poverty. The Grameen Foundation supports micro-finance programmes in developing countries.
Previous honorees include King Carl Gustaf XVI and Queen Silvia of Sweden, Her Majesty Queen Sofia of Spain, as well as President Gloria Arroyo of The Philippines.
The Foundation wished to recognize President Halonen as a progressive thinker who is widely respected for her advocacy for social justice.
In her speech at the award ceremony, Halonen commented that strengthening entrepreneurship and promoting productive activities are useful tools in reducing poverty. She argued that one of the central pillars in the development of a society is its ability to utilize the resources of all its citizens and to get them involved in national development.
Prior to the award ceremony, Halonen participated in a round-table discussion on global poverty and met briefly with Chancellor Gerhard Schröder.
During her short stay in Berlin, President Halonen will also meet Germany's new President Horst Köhler on Wednesday.
