Yunus hails UN venue as ‘big promotion’
Nobel laureate Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus has described the move from a small, cramped corner room to a larger venue at the United Nations headquarters as a “big promotion” for the annual social business gathering.
Yunus made the remarks while addressing the 11th edition of the “Social Business, Youth and Technology” side event, held on the opening day of the UN General Assembly session.
UN General Assembly President Dr Khalilur Rahman, Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta and Brazilian Minister Wellington Dias were among the prominent figures attending the event, alongside other world leaders and participants.
Recalling earlier editions of the event, Yunus said organisers had previously been given a small corner room at the UN, where there was barely enough space for everyone.
This year, however, the event was moved to a larger venue, which he jokingly described as a “big promotion”.
Welcoming Khalilur Rahman’s tenure as President of the UN General Assembly, Yunus said having him present from the beginning of the General Assembly session was a special privilege.
He also expressed hope that the international community would hear clear messages of peace and justice amid what he described as increasingly complicated diplomatic language.
In his speech, Yunus reflected on the 50-year journey of microcredit and the growing global movement around social business.
He highlighted the work of Grameen America, saying the organisation had provided more than $8 billion in loans to marginalised communities across the United States, including in New York.
He cited the organisation’s repayment performance as an example of the potential of financial services designed for people traditionally excluded from conventional banking.
Yunus also pointed to several social businesses in Bangladesh as examples of how enterprises can become financially sustainable while addressing social problems.
Among them, he highlighted 153 healthcare centres, a telemedicine network and a self-sustaining eye hospital.
According to Yunus, these initiatives have achieved financial independence by reinvesting their profits into their operations rather than distributing them as conventional business returns.
Towards the end of his speech, Yunus announced plans for Grameen University, which he said would begin its journey next December.
The university, he said, would seek to move beyond a conventional education system focused primarily on producing job seekers.
Instead, it would emphasise developing young people as entrepreneurs and equip them to address major social and environmental challenges.
Yunus said the institution would work towards the goals of zero poverty, zero unemployment and zero net carbon emissions.
Calling for greater international support for initiatives aimed at improving the lives of marginalised communities, Yunus urged leaders and participants at the event to help advance the social business movement and create opportunities for young people around the world.
