France to support Yunus on social business

(From left) French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Nobel Laureate Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus and former French minister for housing and urban affairs Christine Boutin at an official presentation ceremony of the interim report on the social dimension of globalisation at Elysee Palace in France on Thursday. Photo : Yunus Centre

Former Housing Minister of France Christine Boutin and Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus presented the interim report on the social dimension of globalisation to French President Nicolas Sarkozy at an official ceremony at Elysee Palace on Thursday.
They briefed the president on the French action plan on the social front during French Presidency of G20 summit next year, a release of the Yunus Centre said yesterday.
Christine Boutin presented her interim report on the social dimension of globalisation to Sarkozy in presence of Professor Muhammad Yunus. The head of state had commissioned this report to Boutin in December 2009, in the framework of the French presidency of the G20 Summit.
Sarkozy paid tribute to the work of Muhammad Yunus, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006, and the contribution of the Grameen Bank and microcredit in the fight against poverty.
The president also assured France's support to his work, which aims to develop “social business”, in the actions of the international community at the service of development.
Proposals included in Boutin's report are echo back to two pillars of the French presidency: food safety, which will be key on the agenda for the development of the G20 and corporate social responsibility.
Sarkozy also thanked Boutin for her comprehensive work, and emphasised that the social aspect of globalisation would be at the heart of the French presidency of the G20.