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Change all, from individuals to countries
5th Social Business Summit kicks off in Kuala Lumpur
Md Fazlur Rahman, from Kuala Lumpur

[NEWS_IMAGE] The fifth Global Social Business Summit began in Malaysia yesterday with a more focused goal of changing individuals, communities, villages, cities and countries to solve some of the most pressing social ills using the new economic theory.
Around 600 participants comprising development activists, politicians, policymakers, corporate leaders, business celebrities and academics from 40 countries are attending the three-day event themed ‘Social business to change the world’, at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

From Bangladesh, where the idea was originated by Nobel Peace Prize Winner Prof Muhammad Yunus, 107 participants are taking part.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Prof Yunus said social business offers a real chance to the world to make a lasting impact.

He said the capitalist system came up with a lot of promises and the whole world rallied merrily around it. “It was thought that it would solve all problems. Instead, it created new problems. And there is no light at the end of the tunnel, and we are trapped.”

The founder of Grameen Bank said business is a powerful machine that could be used in different directions to achieve multiple results, instead of driving it for a single goal of making money.

“Social business could be that multi-tasking machine. Making money could make one happy, but making others happy can bring in super-happiness.”

One of the most celebrated thinkers and doers in the world of poverty alleviation, the microcredit pioneer described with much joy how social business is conquering new frontiers, making inroads into traditionally conservative and powerful organisations.

“We received a very good response from African Development Bank and USAID, which will help us venture into the areas they operate.”

Haiti is providing 10,000 hectares of land for forestation under a social business project, which has been a dream come true in social business, he added.
Later at a press briefing, Prof Yunus faced questions on the success of social business. “When we launched microcredit, people said that it would not work. When it worked, they said that it could only work in Bangladesh, not outside the country. When we launched microcredit in Malaysia and it worked, they again said that it would only work in Asia.”

“But now microcredit operations are being copied in most countries, including the US. I hope the same will happen to social business.”

Fatima al Balooshi, social development minister of Bahrain, said her country has targeted social business as a means to empower its marginalised section of society — socially, economically and politically.

She said despite being an oil-rich country, more than 1,700 people have taken microloans from microlenders. “We are helping people start home-based business.”
She also said social business could be a model for most Middle Eastern countries to sort out their social ills and ensure social cohesion.

Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, through video-conferencing said: “We believe businesses can make the world better. Still, two billion people are living below the poverty line. Social business is a perfect tool to help them come out of poverty.”

Saskia Bruysten, chief executive of Yunus Social Business in Germany, said they are helping young entrepreneurs with training and networking and financial support so they can make their dream a reality.

She said Yunus Social Business has already launched projects in seven countries, including 20 projects in Haiti, Albania, Tunisia and India.

Nurfarini Daing, chief executive of Youth Trust Foundation (myHarapan), said social business is the best solution suited to the ideas and thoughts of the youth with which they can contribute to the community.

Eric Lesueur, project director of Grameen Veolia, which is running a water project for a poor community in Bangladesh, said the success of the project would help them replicate the venture in other parts of the country as well as other parts of the world.
The social system Europe had built after World War II is not working properly, he said. “Social business is one of the major solutions that can be used to review the model.”

Rogerio Oliveira, co-founder and country director of Yunus Social Business in Brazil, said the country is interested in introducing social business to protect its vast Amazon forests.

Brazil could be the best place for social business, as South America’s largest economy is bubbling with social issues, he added.

Hans Reitz, founder of Grameen Creative Lab, said creating a creative movement was at the core when the global social business movement began.

Reitz is the brain-child behind the idea of social business cities and villages. “The next big thing will start in a small way. If you cannot change your street, how will you change the world?”

Prof Hiroto Yasuura, vice executive president of Kyushu University, said social businesses are fast spreading among students, not only in his university but also in other universities. Yasuura helped introduce microcredit and social business in Japan.

At the day’s session, a deal was signed with the Veracruz government. In addition, an announcement was made on Grameen Creative Lab’s partnership with Berlin.
Aarti Wig, country director of Yunus Social Business India; Bhaskar Chatterjee, director general of Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs; Antonio da Conceicao, commerce, industry and environment minister of East Timor; Gilbert Mbesherubusa, a vice president of African Development Bank; Erin Pham Steinhauer, head of corporate responsibility Asia Pacific of Visa Inc; and Jimmy Wales, founder Wikipedia (virtual address), also spoke.

Grameen Creative Lab, Yunus Centre and Youth Trust Foundation (myHarapan) organised the summit.

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/change-all-from-individuals-to-countries/