News
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Obama cites Pakistani entrepreneur’s success
WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama has vowed to build an economic development partnership with Pakistan, Afghanistan and other Muslim countries as part of his administration’s unprecedented outreach to the Islamic world aimed at fostering relations on the basis of mutual trust and respect.
Obama cited the story of a Pakistani woman, Roshaneh Zafar, who was inspired by Bangladeshi pioneer Dr Muhammad Yunus of Grameen Bank and has extended microfinancing through her ‘Kashf’ organisation to help thousands of distressed families out of their financial woes. He cited her success in pulling families out of poverty through microfinancing as he addressed a gathering of entrepreneurs from 50 Muslim countries and pledged Washington’s commitment to deepen business and entrepreneurship ties with them.
The US president reinforced the economic partnership message by expressing his administration’s resolve towards addressing some of the thorniest political disputes including the Middle East conflict and partnering with Pakistan and Afghanistan in their anti-terrorism struggle through improvement in the lives of their people.
“As President, I’ve worked to ensure that America once again meets its responsibilities, especially when it comes to the security and political issues that have often been a source of tension,” he said at the Presidential Entrepreneurship Summit. Obama acknowledged the feisty challenge in bringing peace to the Middle East but committed that “despite the inevitable difficulties, so long as I am President, the US will never waver in our pursuit of a two-state solution that ensures the rights and security of both Israelis and Palestinians.”
“And around the world, the US will continue to stand with those who seek justice and progress and the human rights and dignity of all people,” added the US president.
Among some examples of successful entrepreneurship in the Muslim countries Obama highlighted at the summit the story of Roshaneh Zafar, “Look at the professor who came up with an idea — micro-finance — that empowered the rural l poor across his country, especially women and children. That’s the powerful example of Dr Yunus.” app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk