Harmonising a World of Three Zeros: Is It Possible?

Sunway Business School was honoured to welcome Nobel Prize Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus to its dinner dialogue entitled "Harmonizing a World of Three Zeros". Prof Muhammad Yunus is a Bangladeshi economist who pioneered the concept of microcredit and microfinance. He also founded the Grameen Bank for the poor and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his efforts in alleviating poverty. 

In 2006, Time Magazine listed Professor Yunus under “60 Years of Asian Heroes” as one of the top 12 business leaders. In 2008, Professor Yunus was voted the 2nd top intellectual person in the world on the Top 100 Public Intellectuals list by Prospect Magazine (UK) and Foreign Policy (United States). In 2010, The New Statesman (UK) listed him as one of “The World’s 50 Most Influential Figures”. He is the recipient of 60 honorary degrees from universities across 24 countries.

Esteemed guests Tan Sri Prof. Dr Jemilah Mahmood (Executive Director, Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, Sunway University) and Dato' Mohammad Faiz Azmi (Fellow & Council Member, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)) were also present. The event was held with the Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (ASLI) and the Yunus Social Business Centre. 

Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah, founder of Sunway Group and Chairman of both ASLI and Sunway Group, delivered the opening speech. He brought the Global Sustainable Development Report 2023 to the audience's attention, which states that 85% of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals will remain unachieved if we do not alter our current path. 

Following this, Lamiya Morshed, Executive Director at the Yunus Centre, introduced guests to the Yunus Centre. The Yunus Centre acts as a social business hub and is called a 'global centre of excellence for social business incubation.

Prof. Muhammad Yunus delivered the event’s keynote speech, "Harmonizing a World of Three Zeros." This topic focused on Prof. Muhammad Yunus’ belief that a world with zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero carbon emissions can and should be achieved. Design and ideas within organisations can move toward the right path once they adopt the idea that profit is not the only incentive.

A focus on social businesses as opposed to profit-making businesses can cater to a civilisation built on human wellness. According to Prof Yunus, social businesses can be taught in Universities by simply forming a ‘Three Zero’ Club, which can build a community with the right focus. He closed the speech by emphasising the notion that small actions matter. We are all contributors through our actions and choices. 

ASLI CEO Mr Danial Rahman steered a panel discussion in which Prof Muhammad Yunus, Tan Sri Professor Dr Jemilah Mahmood and Dato Faiz Azmi provided insights on the Anthropocene era and the need to address the climate emergency. They also discussed the private sector's role in supporting sustainable financing to combat wealth concentration, the purpose of quality education, our consumer habits, rewarding peace and more. 

The event concluded with a closing speech by Prof. Dato' Elizabeth Lee (Group CEO, Sunway Education), who stated, “We are all in this together,” in reference to the journey to achieve the three zeroes.

This event was made possible with the generous support of the ICAEW, Ernst & Young (EY), Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Berhad (CGC), Commerce International Merchant Bankers Berhad (CIMB) and Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC).

A special mention goes to the Sunway Business School Student Concilium members, whose invaluable assistance made this event a resounding success.

David Chong Boon Hean
Sunway Business School
Email: @email

Anas Hayyan
Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute
Email: @email