UNB, Dhaka :
Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus has inaugurated Grameen America Inc’s (GAI) new branch in the borough of Harlem in New York.
This is the 7th branch in New York City, including those operating in Jackson Heights, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx and Manhattan. Grameen America currently operates 19 branches in eight US cities targeting and educating the women of low income.
Andrea Jung, CEO of GAI, other senior managers and staff of GAI, and potential clients were present at the colorful branch opening ceremony held recently in Harlem, said a Yunus Centre press release in Dhaka on Monday.
Earlier, in the week, Prof Yunus, Andrea Jung and Hillary Rodham Clinton jointly announced before a packed hall Grameen America’s commitment to invest US$ 50 million in over 7,000 women-owned businesses in Harlem through 2020 at the 10th Annual Clinton Global Meeting in New York.
Yunus was in New York to participate in the 10th Annual Clinton Global Meeting and UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon’s MDG Advocacy Group Meeting during September 20-29.
He also participated in the sixth Climate Week NYC from September 22-28 organised by the Climate Group. The B Team hosted a live panel climate discussion on redefining the role of business in society, hosted by Sir Richard Branson, Prof Yunus, Paul Polman and Mary Robinson.
Prime Minister of Haiti Laurent Lamothe met Yunus in New York to discuss the progress of Yunus’ Social Business programme in Haiti intended to help create jobs and reduce the country’s dependence on international aid.
They discussed the progress of the reforestation project in Haiti to encourage people to protect the forests and accelerate reforestation of the country-one of the main priorities of the Haitian government.
