Indian film director Shekhar Kapur has signed a memorandum of understanding with Grameen Creative Lab to create a social business fund for ensuring safe drinking water in India.
The director of Oscar winning films ‘Elizabeth’ and ‘Elizabeth: The Golden Age’ will also spread the message of social business, championed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, across the world.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the second Global Social Business Summit in Germany recently.
At the summit, Brazilian author Paulo Coelho accepted the title of ‘Social Business Ambassador’. Australian Hollywood actor Hugh Jackman has also confirmed that he is accepting the same honour, according to Yunus Centre in Dhaka.
Social business, according to Prof Yunus, is a cause-driven business, which allows the investors or owners to gradually recoup the money invested but not to take any dividend.
The purpose of the investment is to achieve one or more social objectives through the operation of any company. It does not allow the investors to gain personally out of the venture.
The Grameen Creative Lab, a joint venture between Prof Yunus and serial entrepreneur Hans Reitz, hosted the two-day annual summit.
Grameen Creative Lab works to raise awareness about social business.
Prof Yunus, Danone Group Co-chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Faber, Adidas CEO Herbert Hainer, chemical giant BASF CEO Dr Humbrecht and Otto Group Chairman Michael Otto were among the 300 participants at the event.
Author Coelho, Bollywood director Kapur and Grand Duchess Maria-Teresa of Luxembourg also attended the global event, apart from delegations from several governments, including ministers, governors, and mayors.
