30th Social Business Design Lab held

The 30th Social Business Design Lab took place at the Grameen Bank Auditorium in the city Wednesday.
Over 120 participants from national and international organisations with diverse background attended the programme, said a statement.
The Design Lab was presided over by Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus. He inaugurated the lab by welcoming the guests including those participating from 70 other countries via live stream.
Prof Yunus reported that out of a total of 357 projects presented in the earlier 29 design labs, 335 projects were approved for investment; most of them are already in operation.
At the 30th lab, six new social business plans were presented. Among them were Nobin Udyokta businesses by young entrepreneurs who are the children of Grameen Bank borrowers. These are Sonia Tailors of Ms Khadiza Sultana Sonia, Kamal Store by Md Saiful Islam Shujon, Jolekha Dairy Farm by Ms Iti Begum. Three open social business projects were also presented. They were related to manufacturing affordable sanitary napkins for garments workers and school students in Chittagong, providing technical support to young entrepreneurs, and manufacturing of accessories for solar home system in Gaibandha.
Prof Yunus expressed his gratitude to the participants for the innovative social businesses and noted that it was exciting that so many ideas were now a reality. He also invited participants to the 31st Social Business Design Lab, to be held on October 15.