In Paris, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Muhammad Yunus unveiled a deal between his pioneering Grameen Bank and French multinational Veolia Water to provide clean water to poor rural communities in Bangladesh.
The new company, Grameen-Veolia Water Ltd, will be 50% owned by Veolia Water AMI (Africa, Middle East, India) and 50% by Grameen Healthcare (a company doing social business in the areas of health and hygiene) and its mission will be to operate several water treatment and production plants in the poorest villages in Bangladesh.
Grameen-Veolia Water aims to bring drinking water to more than 100 000 people for a total investment estimated at € 500 000. At the end of 2008, the first plant, that is currently in the planning stage, will supply water suitable for cooking and drinking to 25 000 inhabitants of Goalmari, a village 100 km. from Dhaka. All profits will be reinvested in the further development of the project.
Sources: AFP / Yahoo! News, 31 Mar 2008 ; Veolia Water, 31 Mar 2008
1 response so far ↓
bdoza // April 17, 2008 at 6:14 pm |
First Danone, now Veolia. Is there is any special reason for Dr. Yunus to prefer French companies for social business partnership in Bangladesh?