Professor Muhammad Yunus has urged members of a Japanese delegation to play an active role in further strengthening the longstanding friendship and existing cordial business and cooperative relations between Bangladesh and Japan from their respective fields.
A 16-member Japanese delegation comprising academics, business leaders and professionals from various fields held an academic discussion on Social Business with Professor Yunus.
The Japanese delegation of academics called on Professor Yunus at his office at the Yunus Centre in Mirpur, Dhaka, on Sunday.
During the meeting, the Japanese delegates expressed their interest in Bangladesh and discussed the importance of further strengthening people-to-people connections, business relations and institutional cooperation between the two countries.
Professor Yunus recalled his visit to Japan during his tenure as Chief Adviser, when representatives of the Japanese government had discussed the possibility of recruiting skilled workers from Bangladesh to help address Japan's growing labour shortage.
During the meeting, Professor Yunus highlighted the potential for further cooperation in this area.
Professor Yunus also briefed the delegation on Grameen's philosophy and various initiatives.
He said Grameen's initiatives are centred on people's capabilities, creativity and entrepreneurial potential.
He also noted that the concept of social business has already gained widespread recognition and popularity in different parts of the world, including Japan.
He said the ultimate goals of economic activities should be to create a three-zero world of zero net carbon emissions, zero wealth concentration to end poverty, and zero unemployment through unleashing entrepreneurship.
Professor Yunus said Grameen institutions are working relentlessly to achieve these goals by creating opportunities for people to realise their entrepreneurial potential and developing solutions to social and environmental challenges.
The meeting also included discussions on potential areas for strengthening cooperation between Bangladesh and Japan in education, business, social development and other fields, as well as further deepening the longstanding relationship between the two countries.
The delegation comprised Professor Shinjiro Ogita, Dean, Faculty of Bioresource Sciences / Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences of Prefectural University of Hiroshima; Hiroki Hamada, Representative Director, Department of Life Science, Meisterbio Co., Ltd. / Okayama University of Science; Daizo Kudo, Professional Consulting Engineer, Research & Technology Division, Nagase Vita Co., Ltd.; Miwa Abe, Associate Professor, School of Humanities and Sciences, Tokai University; Tadashi Uchiyama, Associate Professor, School of Humanities and Sciences, Tokai University; Yoshio Maeda, Visiting Professor, School of Humanities and Sciences, and Representative Director, Tokai University; Seiji Ishimoto, Executive Director and CEO, West-Okayama Medical Clinic; Yasuhiro Kawamoto, CEO, Zenmirai JAPAN Group; Yuta Shigemori, Representative Director, General Incorporated Association Hummingbird; Bunhi Tsuruishi, CEO and Chairman/President, SAKURA GROUP, Educational Corporation Tsuruishi Gakuen; Toshiyuki Maeda, CEO, PATHFINDER Co., Ltd.; and Dr. Md. Ziaul Karim, International Division, Okayama Business College.