PROFESSOR YUNUS MEETS AMIR OF KUWAIT
Press Release
প্রফেসর ইউনূস ও কুয়েতের আমিরের মধ্যে বৈঠক
Nobel laureate professor yunus with the Amir of Kuwait at the Palace of the Amir (Dewan Amiri) on March 8.
His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah - the Amir of the State of Kuwait greeted Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus in the ‘Palace of Amir’ (Dewan Amiri) on March 8, 2016. Professor Yunus is on a three day visit to Kuwait on an official invitation.
During the 45 minute long discussion with the Amir, Professor Yunus thanked him for hosting thousands of Bangladeshis who work in Kuwait and support their families in Bangladesh. Professor requested the Amir to keep the door open for new Bangladeshi workers so that more Bangladeshis can contribute their labour in this friendly country. The Amir told Professor Yunus that he was happy to receive him in his country. The Amir said that he always admired the work of Professor Yunus in helping the poor women. The Amir said, ‘I am concerned about poverty in the world, particularly in the Muslim world’. He shared his hope that poverty can be eliminated but he felt very unhappy to see the absence of any concern for the poor in important quarters. The Amir said that he was trying his best to be of help to the poor. He said Kuwait needed advice from Professor Yunus to do more for the poor. Professor Yunus thanked the Amir for the development assistance provided to Bangladesh through Kuwait Fund and invited him to visit Bangladesh. The Amir said that he wished he could go to Bangladesh but he cannot travel much.
Professor Yunus proposed that the Amir's Economic Advisor Dr Yousef Al-Ebraheem, who was present at the meeting, be given the responsibility to keep liaison with Professor Yunus to see what programs can be designed for Kuwait in social sector. He suggested that it may begin by Dr Ebraheem attending Social Business Day events in Bangladesh. He proposed to create Social Business Funds in ‘Kuwait Fund’ and Kuwait SME Funds by allocating 5 percent of the respective funds for this purpose. He also elaborated how important it is to make the youth of Kuwait to become aware of the role of social business and entrepreneurship. He proposed to establish Social Business Centre at the Kuwait University.
The Amir expressed his worries about the political situation in the Middle East and the huge refugee problem. He said he was trying to help the refugees as best as he could, but the problem was getting worse every day. He hoped sanity would emerge soon among nations to stop this senseless conflict.
Later Professor Yunus called on his Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait. He explained the purpose of his visit and thanked the Prime Minister for hosting Bangladeshis in his country and drew his attention to visa restrictions for new workers.
Professor Yunus had a meeting with Mr. Ali Marzouq Al-Ghanim, the President of National Assembly of the State of Kuwait who presented him with a replica of the National Assembly. Several leading members of the parliament attended the meeting and participated in the discussion.
Later in the evening Professor Yunus gave a public lecture in a packed hall of Kuwait Chamber of Commerce where almost half of the cabinet members were present along with the top government officials, elite of the city, academics and business leaders. During the lecture Professor Yunus thanked the government and people of Kuwait for hosting Bangladeshis and appealed to them to keep the door open for Bangladeshis. The lecture ended with a standing ovation for the speaker.
On March 7 Professor Yunus addressed a dinner meeting of 60 leading entrepreneurs. He explained to them why he thinks all young people should become entrepreneurs rather than job-seekers.
On March 9 Professor Yunus will spend the day among students and faculty of Kuwait University, giving a public lecture and having separate meetings with students and faculty of various departments.
Photo Caption: Nobel laureate professor yunus with the Amir of Kuwait at the Palace of the Amir (Dewan Amiri) on March 8.
