TDLC Manager Ryu Fukui speaks during a videoconference in Tokyo July 16, 2009.  TDLC/KK

TDLC Manager Ryu Fukui recently made a live television appearance as expert commentator on microfinance in the context of ‘social business ’in a news documentary ‘Kyo-no Sekai’ (today’s world) on Japan’s public broadcaster NHK television on June 17, 2009.

The program took a look at Nobel peace prize winner Dr. Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, and his the concept of ‘social business’. Based on his success in microcredit, ‘social business’, is his innovative approach to establish sustainable socio-economic systems, combining the resources of private firms with social needs in order to to alleviate poverty.

Fukui has previously worked as financial expert for the World Bank’s Africa Region, and has also led technical assistance and research projects in Asia for Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Specializing in microfinance and small- scale finance, Fukui offered his expert views on the evening broadcast on the achievements of microfinance and the implications made to the world by ‘social business.’

“Dr. Yunus has launched a futuristic scope of sustainable, growing social businesses,” said Fukui. He stressed that there was a need for social understanding and a certain type of infrastructure for supporters and investors to realistically support its growth. “Comparisons have to be made possible on the effectiveness of such ‘social businesses.’”

“Private firms can and should start where they can, right now,” Fukui adds to his television commentary. “Finding a new way on how to do business through meeting the needs of poor people—microfinance has done this in a way that no bankers or any business people had previously imagined. Why not also in other types of businesses?”

As of this writing, TDLC is carrying out the sixth delivery of a course for training microfinance trainers.