Yunus says women entrepreneurs to drive economy

From left, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, UN Economic and Social Council Chair Martin Sajdik and Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus attend the joint plenary of the seventh Astana Economic forum and second World Anti-Crisis Conference, in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan on May 23. Photo: Yunus Centre

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus stressed the need for integrating women in entrepreneurial activism, which has a positive effect on the economy of a country.
Prof Yunus spoke while addressing the plenary session of the seventh Astana Economic forum and second World Anti-Crisis Conference in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan on May 23.
He discussed the power of microcredit and social business in tackling social problems in the context of the existing capitalist system that excludes the poorest.
He also shed light on the power of technology in healthcare and medicine, including the potential revolutionary role that cellphones are already playing in this regard.
The Astana Economic Forum brings together world leaders, academic experts and high-level business representatives to find solutions to the greatest economic and social challenges of the present world, the Yunus Centre said in a statement yesterday.
The plenary session was also addressed by President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, UN Economic and Social Council Chair Martin Sajdik.
Former Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov moderated the session, according to the statement.
President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev urged the countries to be united to work to overcome the growing gap between the rich and the poor.
“This problem is not just limited to developing countries but also developed countries, like Germany and the UK.”
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon spoke with the participants of the forum through a video conference, endorsing the idea of a crusade against poverty.
During his stay in Kazakhstan, Yunus visited Eurasia University and spoke to the students. The vice chancellor of the university made the Nobel laureate an "Honorary Professor" of the university.
Over 10,000 participants from more than 150 countries attended this year's Astana Economic Forum.