The recently elected young (36) mayor of Fukuoka city Mr. Soichiro Takashima declared the city of Fukuoka as a Social Business City, at the closing of the Asian Forum for Social Business that took place in the city from 21-23 July. The declaration took place at a signing ceremony between Mayor Takashima, Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus and Professor Hiroto Yasuura, Vice President of Kyushu University. The city which was announced as a social business hub last year, has now formally adopted the title of "social business city" which would promote zero dividend businesses to solve social problems in the city of Fukuoka, and throughout Asia.  On the same day, the Kyushu University announced the setting up a new academic centre named as " Yunus Shiiki Centre for Research on Social Business". A prominent businessman Mr. Shiiki of the city funds this Centre. The ceremony took place in the presence of 1250 participants at the closing of the three-day forum. The Asia Forum for Social Business had earlier been opened by Mayor Soichiro Takashima on 21 July and brought together many influential policy makers and businessmen of Japan. Following opening speech by Nobel Laureate Professor Yunus, a high level panel discussion took place addressed by founder and CEO of UNIQLO, Tadashi Yanai, and CEO of Yukiguni Maitake, country directors of Danone and Veolia , all of whom have joint venture social businesses in Bangladesh, and President of Kyushu University.
During the three days of deliberations, participants prepared and presented innovative social business plans and for setting up of Tohoku Social Business Fund to finance those social businesses to assist in the recovery of Tohoku region of Japan, which was devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake on 3 March 2011. These social businesses included a Tohoku cultural Resurgence Company to present musical and cultural events throughout Japan, an agricultural company named as Grameen Agricultural Company to facilitate the rehabilitation the agriculture and fisheries in the devastated region.
These business plans were prepared during workshops at the fourm by the heads of NGOs, NPOs, foundations and businesses, and adjudged by Professor Yunus.
During his stay in Fukuoka, Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus opened a two-storied spacious building named as "Grameen House" at Kyushu University campus which will accommodate all the social business research, classroom teachings, the first of its kind among the universities which have launched social business programmes.
He addressed a meeting with 100 women leaders of Fukoka, also delivered a keynote to 60 young peace ambassadors and 400 eleven year old junior peace ambassadors from around the world at the annual Asia Pacific Children's Convention which takes place annually at Munukata, Fukuoka Prefecture.
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