What is the primary purpose of the Grameen Bank?

The primary purpose of the Grameen Bank is to support self-employment projects through microcredit lending. Founded by Muhammad Yunus in Bangladesh, the Grameen Bank pioneered the concept of providing small loans to individuals, particularly the poor and marginalized, who do not have access to traditional banking services. The intention behind this microcredit approach is to empower individuals to start or expand their small businesses, thus promoting self-sufficiency and economic independence.

This model specifically targets entrepreneurs and small-scale ventures, enabling borrowers to engage in self-employment activities that contribute to their local economy. The emphasis on microcredit is crucial, as it allows individuals to overcome the lack of collateral that often prevents them from accessing credit from conventional banks.

In contrast, the other options either do not align with the bank’s mission or misrepresent its focus. Providing low-interest personal loans to consumers is too broad and not specific to self-employment or entrepreneurial ventures. Funding government infrastructure projects represents a different sector and purpose entirely, while financing large corporations and businesses contradicts the bank's commitment to assisting underprivileged individuals and small enterprises. Thus, the choice highlighting support for self-employment projects accurately captures the Grameen Bank's core mission and operations.