Yunus and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo launches French Social Business Initiatives

12th March, 2017

Yunus Centre Press Release (12 March, 2017)

Paris Sets Vision of Inclusion and Innovation Ahead of Paris 2024 Olympic Bid

Nobel Peace Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo joined 100 of France’s leading social business entrepreneurs and organisations at Paris’ City Hall on March 10, 2017 to explore innovative ways to make the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games the most inclusive ever.

The event, which was also attended by Paris Olympic 2024 CEO Etienne Thobois, saw almost 100 French flagship start-ups come together to share ideas on innovation, solidarity and social issues, and discuss how collectively they can enhance the organisation of the 2024 Olympic Games.

The meeting provided a forum for ideas to be exchanged that will now be developed over the coming months at Yunus Centre Paris at Les Canaux, the hub for social and innovation economy start-ups in Paris.

Professor Muhammad Yunus said at the event, “I was impressed by the level of enthusiasm displayed by the entrepreneurs and start-ups involved in today’s gathering of minds. There was a real sense of purpose and a clear desire from those involved to support the Paris Olympic 2024 bid and make the Games as socially responsible and inclusive as possible.” Professor Yunus also expressed his hope to see Paris as the global hub for social business in the coming days riding on the enthusiasm and policy support. Professor Yunus urged the entrepreneurs to be creative. “As an entrepreneur we can solve any problem that is in front of us. We can solve any problem of the world if we decide to use our creative power”, he told the audience.

Paris Mayor Ms Hidalgo held a separate Strategy Session with Professor Yunus and her top executives. They came up with several key decisions to make Paris Olympic unique in history. The Mayor thanked Yunus for opening Yunus Centre in Paris. The Yunus Centre in Paris will promote social business in France and wider Europe.

Paris 2024 Olympic aims to be a model of inclusion, sustainable development and social innovation -- building on the city’s global leadership in social business, the sharing economy and smart city thinking.