Reimagining finance, rebuilding justice

Last June 27 to 28, I had the privilege of attending Social Business Day (SBD) 2025 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Organized by the Yunus Centre in collaboration with the Grameen Group, the event gathered over 1,000 participants from 36 countries. Attended by leaders in microfinance, healthcare, digital innovation, and youth empowerment, it was more than just a conference; it was a global call to action for building a world that is not only sustainable, but just.

- JAIME ARISTOTLE B. ALIP, PHD

SBD is an annual gathering that celebrates the work of social business entrepreneurs — those who use business as a force for solving social problems, believing that a better world is not only possible but already in the making.

This year’s theme, as framed by Nobel Peace Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, was clear and urgent: “Social Business is the Most Efficient Path to Ensure Healthcare For All.” In his keynote, Professor Yunus reminded us that healthcare is not a luxury — it is a right. He stressed that healthcare for all must be reimagined through values-based business models that prioritize people over profit.

Over two days, we heard powerful stories of innovation and impact. Mr. Mitsuru Izumo, a young entrepreneur from Japan, talked about developing nutritious biscuits to combat childhood malnutrition. Ms. Kady Kanoute Tounkara, an Olympian Champion from Mali, spoke passionately about how sports can be a powerful medium for promoting peace and entrepreneurship among youth. Several sessions highlighted how digital technology is expanding access to healthcare. From mobile diagnostics to telemedicine, we saw how social businesses are closing the gap between innovation and affordability. These are not futuristic ideas—they are real solutions already reaching underserved communities!