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Yunus Centre Press Release (28 June, 2019)

Day one of the 9th Social Business Day, hosted by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus has officially begun at the Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre, Central World in Bangkok, Thailand. It is jointly being organized by Yunus Centre, Bangladesh, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and Kasetsart University, Thailand. The inaugural day was quite an eventful one with speakers, change makers and delegates from diverse backgrounds and experience gathered under one roof to exchange their ideals, practises, successes and challenges in the realm of social businesses globally.

This year, the theme is “Making Money is Happiness, Making Other People Happy is Super Happiness". Panel discussions addressed a myriad of topics in relation to the social business ecosystem ranging from food and agriculture, deforestation, green energy to education, health, technology, sports as well as culture and arts.

The first half of the day was addressed by Emmanuel Faber, Chief Executive Officer, Danone. In his keynote, he talked about his personal journey in achieving ‘super happiness’ and his pathway to nurturing social business globally. He mentioned, “Social business is a strategic tool which has changed the mind set for Danone and for me.  This is a journey to find out what you are super happy about, to find out what you are best at and to give your best effort and devote your whole life to it”.

Mechai Viravaidya, Chairman, Mechai Viravaidya Foundation highlighted the fact that social business development should be taught in primary schools to ensure its long term sustainability. He further reiterated Professor Yunus’ quote from his book that ‘access to credit must be a human right’.

Father Enzo Fortunato, Spokesperson and Communication Director of The Holy Convent of Papal Basilica of Assisi representing the Vatican, invited Nobel Laureate Professor Yunus to the Economic Summit in Spring 2020 on behalf of Pope Frances. He announced that the Vatican will further honour Professor Yunus with the “Lamp of Peace”, an award exclusively given to honor those who work towards promoting peace and harmony. Armida Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) also spoke the institution’s role in promoting inclusive businesses in Asia and the Far East.

Mr.Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, Chairman of C-Asean talked about Thailand’s leading role and history in serving as a community hub for both South East Asian and global nations and how it wants to catalyse change and community spirit for social business development inclusively. Dr. Eden Woon, President of Asian Institute of Technology called on Yunus Social Business Centres around the world towards working collaboratively with the single focus of improvement of human race through social business.

There were several notable video messages at this highly attractive event. United Nations Secretary-General, Honourable António Guterres sent a video message which highlighted the need for social business globally if we are to tackle the most pressing needs of all communities. Jose Graziano da Silva, Director General, Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations talked about FAO’s collaboration with Professor Yunus in community and economic empowerment. Thomas Bach, President, International Olympic Committee (IOC) thanked Professor Yunus in acting as a mentor for Olympic athletes in becoming social business entrepreneurs. Academy award winning actor Matt Damon and Gary White, co-founders of Water.org commended Professor Yunus for providing the inspiration for their philanthropic work.

This was followed by the opening address given by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. Professor Yunus commended on the massive turnout of almost 1500 delegates from 59 countries. 80 delegates came from Japan alone, 30 from China and 50 from Taiwan. 200 delegates arrived from Bangladesh as well. This was the biggest international gathering of social business till date. The first one was in 2010 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

In the Pecha Kucha session seven presenters highlighted their projects. Notable presenters included Pracharat Rak Samakkee Social Business and Tongjai Thanachanan, Managing Director of C-Asean, Léa Klein, Asia Director of MakeSense, Ashraful Hassan, Managing Director, Grameen Telecom and Sing For Hope Co-Founders Monica Yunus and Camille Zamora.

Two new Yunus Social Business Centres (YSBC) were announced at National Taipei University of Business and Albukhary International University Malaysia. The total number of YSBCs globally is 76.

Other major announcements include the ideation behind creating a sustainable social business city in South Africa by Dr. Harry Bradbury, Executive Chairman, Imaginatives Group Limited and the inauguration of the Danone Nations Cup 2019 with Nobel Peace Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus and Mrs Florence Darquie-Bossard, Director, Danone Nations Cup, the creation of Yunus Thailand, as an umbrella organization for all social business initiatives in Thailand.

Yukoh Satake, Co-CEO, Grameen Euglena, Japan mentioned the formation of a “Japan Action Tank” to facilitate the growth, knowledge and development of social businesses in Japan. Hans Reitz, Co-Founder, Grameen Creative Lab announced the Global Social Business Summit 2019 to be held later this year in November.

There were nine panel discussions and three plenary sessions on topics that ranged from food and agriculture to education, from roles of corporates in social business to youth leadership. A panel discussion on “Art and Culture to bring Social Change through Social Business” was moderated by Monica Yunus, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director, Sing for Hope.

Tomorrow will be the second and last day of the Social Business Day 2019. It will bring out several major announcements and interesting plenary sessions on “social business and sports” as well as “challenges in social business”. There will be eight country forums where delegates from each country will discuss challenging issues pertaining their nation and look at social business solutions to eradicate them.

Photo Caption 1&2: Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus giving the opening address at the Social Business Day 2019.

Photo Caption 3: Announcement of the creation of Yunus Thailand, as an umbrella organization for all social business initiatives in Thailand.

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