www.ait.ac.th
JULY 2019
Asian Institute of Technology
JULY 2019
AIT CO-HOSTS BIGGEST-EVER SOCIAL BUSINESS DAY Ten years after the launch of the Yunus Centre at AIT, the Institute was host to the biggest-ever Social Business Day (SBD) so far. The 9th Social Business Day (28-29 June 2019) witnessed participation from nearly 1,500 delegates from 59 countries. Organized every year to commemorate the achievements of the Social Business movement led by Nobel laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus, the Bangkok event set the bar even higher for SBD celebrations, a fact Prof. Yunus proudly mentioned. “Bangkok has outdone everybody, and it has established a new benchmark for organizing the Social Business Day,” Prof. Yunus said. AIT came in for a special mention by Prof. Yunus, who thanked Yunus Centre at AIT and its Director Dr. Faiz Shah and AIT President Dr. Eden Y. Woon. “A big round of applause for AIT,” the Nobel laureate remarked. President Woon described the event as a fitting occasion that coincided with the celebrations of AIT’s 60th anni-
versary as well as the 10th anniversary of the Yunus Centre. Yunus Centre at AIT was the first such centre when it was established in 2009, which has now been replicated by 76 universities. The AIT President added that AIT would play a lead role in collaborating with Yunus Centres worldwide. Addresses were delivered by Lamiya Morshed, Executive Director, Yunus Centre; Dr. Eden Woon; Mr. Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, Chairman, C-asean; Emmanuel Faber, Chief Executive Officer, Danone; Dr. Armida Alisjahbana, ESCAP Executive Secretary; and Mechai Viravaidya, Chair, Mechai Viravaidya Foundation, and Mr. Suphachai Chearavanont, CEO CP Group. Video messages were delivered by António Guterres, UN Secretary General; José Graziano da Silva, Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); and actor Matt Damon and Gary White, co-founders of water.org, among others.
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