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Yunus Centre Press Release (06 July, 2019)

Moscow, 1-2 July 2019.

Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus was invited by the Governor of the Central Bank of Russia to address the 28th International Finance Conference in St Petersburg. On his way to St Petersburg an elaborate programme was organized for him in Moscow by Microfinance Association of Russia and Our Future Foundation. The focus of the programme was addressing the International Social Business Day celebration. This included a press conference on social business addressed by the leaders of microfinance and social businesses and Deputy Minister of Economic Development.
The International Social Business Day (ISBD) is celebrated in Russia every year on June 28, following the initiative of Yunus Centre in Bangladesh. It is celebrated nationally since 2013. The events arranged this year on this day brought together social entrepreneurs, senior authorities, public organizations and passionate stakeholders who want to tackle underlying issues plaguing our society.

Since 2013, 518 events in 67 regions have been hosted, involving more than half a million people in Russia. As a part of these annual events roundtables, social business design contests, seminars, workshops, lectures, open door days for social projects take place all over Russia. The Agency for strategic initiatives, OPORA Russia, Business Russia, Russian Chamber of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and the leading educational institutions of the country act as partners of these celebrations. Our Future Foundation and Microfinance Association of Russia play central role in organizing the annual celebration.

The major topic of discussion at the conference this year was “Review of results of the International Social Business Day celebrations in Russia” – where the future of social entrepreneurship development in Russian regions in relation to the legal status of social entrepreneurship and social businesses was discussed. This included factors such as motivating further interest and support from governmental bodies and partners willing to develop social entrepreneurship in Russia along with their positive experiences and potential point of growth.

Along with Prof. Yunus, other eminent speakers at the event included Sergei Katyrin, President, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, Natalia Zvereva, Director of “Our Future Foundation” as well as Director of the Fund for regional social programmesVadim Zhivulin, Deputy minister of economic development of the Russian Federation; Mikhail Mamuta, Head, Service for Consumer Protection and Financial Inclusion, Bank of Russia; Dmitry Sazonov, Member  of the State Duma (Russian Parliament), deputy chairman of the Committee on economic policy, industry, innovation development and entrepreneurship.

An important event this year was launching of Prof. Yunus’s book “A World of Three Zeros” in the Russian language as a part of the celebration. The book was given as a gift in their conference bags to all delegates attending the conference.  It was a special edition printed for all the conferences held during Prof. Yunus’s visit to Moscow and St. Petersburg. A special edition of the book was printed for this occasion which was jointly sponsored by the Microfinance Association of Russia, and Our Future Foundation.

Prof. Yunus had lunch with Professor Mikhail Eskindarov, Rector of the Financial University of Russia , one of the leading Russian Universities. He was joined by Deputy Rectors. The Rector announced   his decision to set up a Yunus Social Business Centre (YSBC) in the University.

Professor Yunus was given a guided tour of the famous Moscow Museum called “Collection”,  founded  by David Lakobachvili. This museum claims to hold the largest private collections in the world, which contains more than 20,000 items of global cultural heritage. A dinner was hosted in honour of Professor Yunus by the Chairman of Chamber of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Russia where the Noble Laureate addressed the top industrialists of Russia. In his address he highlighted that if businesses and industries continue to pursue the single-minded pursuit of only profit, the world will soon face extinction. He underlined the urgency of stopping the process to let human beings survive. He said time is running out very fast. We must act decisively and very fast.

Caption for Photo 1:  From left to right Sergei Katyrin, President, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, Natalia Zvereva, Director of “Our Future Foundation” as well as Director of the Fund for regional social programmesVadim Zhivulin, Deputy minister of economic development of the Russian Federation; Mikhail Mamuta, Head, Service for Consumer Protection and Financial Inclusion, Bank of Russia; Dmitry Sazonov, Member  of the State Duma (Russian Parliament), deputy chairman of the Committee on economic policy, industry, innovation development and entrepreneurship. at the 28th International Finance Conference in St Petersburg.

Caption for Photo 2:  Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus with First deputy Governor of  Bank of Russia Ksenia Yudaeva.

Caption for Photo 3: Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus with former deputy minister of finance and current Chairman of the Accounts Chamber Alexei Leonidovich Kudrin

Caption for Photo 4: Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus with chair and members of chamber of Industrialists and entrepreneurs, Rusia.

Caption for Photo 5: Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus with former Deputy Speaker of Russian Parliament.

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