The Daily Star – Bangladesh – Sunday June 15, 2008
Brazilian President Lula da Silva has sought assistance from Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus to develop microcredit programme for the poor in Brazil, particularly for the poorest regions of the country.
He also focused on the poverty alleviation programmes of the Brazilian government when Professor Yunus met him at Alvorada Palace in Brasilia on Thursday, says a press release.
During the meeting, Professor Yunus briefed the president on the Grameen Bank programmes. Professor Yunus, who visited Brazil from June 11 to 14 at the invitation of the Brazilian Senate, also addressed the plenary session of the Senate where he spoke of the activities of the Grameen Bank.
The speech was telecast live throughout the country on the Senate TV Channel.
Following the address at the Senate, Professor Yunus was received at Alvorada Palace by President Lula.
During the two-hour meeting attended by cabinet ministers and senators, they discussed development issues ranging from poverty alleviation, healthcare, food crisis, ways of increasing agricultural productivity, climate change and the environment and other common issues facing both Bangladesh and Brazil.
Prof Yunus briefed President Lula on healthcare intiatives of Grameen and sought his advice and assistance based on Brazilian experience to bring healthcare to the poor in Bangladesh.
Vice Minister Dr Gerson Pennay briefed Yunus on the healthcare programmes in Brazil.
President Lula also promised to send his health minister to Bangladesh in the near future.
Later, the agricultural minister joined the meeting and discussed how to increase agricultural productivity in developing countries such as Bangladesh.
Professor Yunus told President Lula that he represented the voice of all developing countries of the world on environmental issues and the rights of the poor.
President Lula said Brazil had a lot to learn from the successes in Bangladesh.
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