This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS QUITO 001269
SIPDIS
FOR EB/CBA NSMITH-NISSLEY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BEXP EINV ELAB ETRD KSEP SENV EC
SUBJECT: NOMINATION FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S AWARD FOR
CORPORATE EXCELLENCE
REF: STATE 66434
Post is pleased to nominate Citigroup, an American company
that operates in over 100 countries around the world for the
Secretary's Award for Corporate Excellence. Here in Ecuador,
SIPDIS
Citigroup operates as a fully embedded financial services
institution. They are committed to the notion of being a
good corporate citizen by contributing positively to the
economy as well as giving back to communities through
philanthropy and community service.
As a good corporate citizen, they have strived to improve the
community in which they operate in three areas: education,
economic and community development, and quality of life.
Through their grant dollars and business and employee
volunteers, they have focused on areas that offer the
greatest opportunity to build economically strong, vibrant
and self-sustaining communities and individuals. As such,
they have supported the Junior Achievement Foundation since
2000, with approximately $100,000 to support different
business and financial education programs, benefiting 4,000
children and young adults. In addition to the economic
contribution, more than 100 Citigroup employees, which
represent 80 percent of their staff, have volunteered to
participate as instructors and advisors in Junior Achievement
programs, adding up to more than 2,000 volunteer hours.
On the environment side, with a $70,000 grant, in 2003 and
2005 Citigroup supported a sustainable cocoa production
project, sponsored by Rainforest Alliance in the Ecuadorian
Coastal Region, benefiting more than 500 local growers and
their families. In addition to helping small cocoa producers
to improve the environmental impact of their cocoa
production, this initiative also assisted growers in
increasing their income through training and direct access to
international cocoa markets.
In the last four years, Citigroup has donated $185,000 to
support micro-entrepreneurs and micro-finance programs
through Fundacion Esquel and Finca, organizations devoted to
help women and low-income teenagers start their own
businesses. Citigroup executives have assisted by providing
financial and banking education, advice and business conduct
seminars.
In 2004, Citigroup Ecuador began a partnership with Habitat
for Humanity and have built six houses in Quito and
Guayaquil, benefiting more than 42 individuals. Citigroup
was the main sponsor when Operation Smile started its mission
in Ecuador in 1995. Citigroup executives have contributed as
volunteers in several surgical missions conducted nationwide,
improving the quality of life of many children with facial
deformities.
Citigroup's exemplary business practices include regular
training to employees in order to shape the best executives
in the Ecuadorian market. In 2004 Citigroup Ecuador was
ranked as the Most Respected Company in the country in the
category of "Leadership and Quality of its Executives" in a
survey of business executives conducted by Lideres Magazine,
PriceWaterhouse Coopers and the Superintendent of Companies.
Citigroup also brought innovation to the financial services
industry through their high-tech transaction-banking platform
"CitiDirect." They were the first corporate bank to
establish a top quality service model (CitiService), offering
efficient and effective on-line solutions to their clients.
This year, Citigroup is celebrating its 45th anniversary in
Ecuador with a long and solid trajectory of service to their
clients and the country. Today, Citigroup is the largest
international financial institution in the country, and has
been ranked by BanksWatch Ratings with the best risk
qualification in the Ecuadorian market AAA-, for three
consecutive years. Citigroup epitomizes the best of American
companies, quality, innovation, a "can-do" spirit and
community service. Citigroup Ecuador deserves the
Secretaries Award for Corporate Excellence.
SIPDIS
Kenney