Yunus invited to launch social business project in Italy

UNB, Dhaka :Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus has been invited to launch a social business project in Palermo city, Italy, aiming to address the problem of youth unemployment there.The invitation came when Yunus met Palermo mayor Leoluca Orlando at its office Villa Niscemi in Sicily’s capital on August 7, according to a message received here on Saturday.President of the Municipal Council Salvatore Orlando and President of the Council of Cultures Adham Darawsha attended the meeting.Being informed about the concept of social business, Palermo mayor Leoluca Orlando urged Prof Yunus to apply the idea of social business in a joint project for women and youth with the use of assets confiscated from Mafia.He has successfully clamped down on the Mafia of Palermo, and has confiscated a large part of its assets.About Bangali people living in his city, Orlando said Bangladeshi community has become the largest foreign community in Palermo as of last month.”Still, Tamils were the largest community in this historical city of 700,000 people. There are more than 10,000 Bangladeshis in the city. Of 21 city council members, three are from Bangladesh,” he said.During his visit to Mayor’s office, nearly 50 Bangladeshis came to meet Prof Yunus.University of Palermo with 50,000 students offered to confer an honorary degree to Prof Yunus during his next visit. The university Rector expressed his interest in getting his faculty members and students involved in social business project in Palermo.