Desk Report:
Principal Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus held a series of high-level meetings with world leaders at the UN Headquarters in New York on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.
He met with the Prime Minister of Australia, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), the former President of Chile and the current Foreign Minister of Uruguay.
After attending the opening session of the UN General Assembly, the Principal Advisor exchanged greetings with the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese. Their brief conversation discussed the caretaker government’s reform efforts, the general elections in Bangladesh to be held next February, and the Bangladeshi immigrants growing up in Australia.
Professor Yunus reiterated his government’s commitment to holding the most transparent and credible elections in the country’s history in early February. He expressed his hope for the presence of international observers to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
Prime Minister Albanese praised the growing contribution of the Bangladeshi community in Australia, especially in his own constituency. He also recalled attending an event to commemorate Language Martyrs’ Day on 21 February a few years ago.
Later, Professor Yunus met with Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, who also serves as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Universal Financial Inclusion. Their discussions focused on expanding access to health insurance, particularly in the Global South.
They discussed various innovations in the financial sector, including life and health insurance, long-term savings and pension schemes, and highlighted the importance of financial inclusion. Professor Yunus stressed the urgent need for credit for maternal health care during pregnancy. He proposed digital health screening to connect rural women with leading doctors, which could save countless lives.
During the meeting, Professor Yunus also called for the restructuring of the global pharmaceutical industry, calling for drug manufacturers to operate as social businesses. He said, “If pharmaceutical companies develop vaccines under social business, it will be cost-effective.”
The Principal Advisor invited Queen Maxima to visit Bangladesh at a convenient time. Her Royal Highness Princess of Orange, Katharina-Amalia, was also present at the meeting.
Professor Yunus also met with the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Their discussions focused on various issues of mutual priority and recent global health developments.
Towards the end of the day, the Principal Advisor participated in two important events: one on ‘Fashion for Development’, and the other on public-private sector collaboration in social innovation.
Professor Yunus honored at ThereWorld’s annual Global Education Dinner in New York
ThereWorld’s annual high-level Global Education Dinner, held in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, brought together global leaders and changemakers to advocate for education for all. The event was held at a New York hotel.
A central feature of the event was the awarding of ThereWorld’s ‘Unlock Big Change’ award to Nobel Peace Prize laureate (2006) and founder of Grameen Bank, Professor Muhammad Yunus, in recognition of his pioneering work in social and economic development and his unwavering commitment to education.
ThereWorld is a global children’s charity committed to addressing the global education crisis and unlocking the potential of the next generation.
The event was co-hosted by Gordon Brown, the UN Special Envoy for Global Education and former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He was accompanied by Sarah Brown, Chair of ThereWorld and Executive Chair of the Global Business Coalition for Education. The event celebrated the power of education to transform lives and societies.
During the award ceremony, Gordon Brown praised Yunus as a global pioneer whose work has empowered millions of people. “No other private sector project in the last 50 years has done as much to lift people out of poverty,” he said.
On Tuesday, Principal Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus joined a meeting of public and private sector leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, organized by the World Economic Forum, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, entitled “Social Innovation in New York: Mobilizing Finance through Social Innovation.”
In addition, on the same day, the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, paid a courtesy call on Principal Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus in New York.
