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| Cameroon - USA Chamber of Commerce |
| Jacksonville, Florida |
| "Cameroon is a place of stability in that part of Africa and we want to do everything we can to strengthen our relationship with Cameroon" Secretary of State Collin Powell |
2007 ABICC Award for Leadership in Global Trade awarded to
The 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Pr. Yunus Mohammad
March 15, 2007
History was duplicated on Thursday March 15th at The Ritz Carlton Hotel luxurious banquet hall in Coconut Grove
Miami Florida, when Professor Mohamad Yunus was designated the recipient of the 2007 ABICC's (Association of
Bi-National Chambers of Commerce) Award for leadership in Global Trade. This was in recognition for his
leadership in accelerating economic and social development in Bangladesh and around the world via micro
finance. Previous winners of this award include (1999) Lech Walesa, former President of Poland and winner of
the Nobel Prize, (2001) Violeta Chamorro, former president of Nicaragua, (2003) Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada,
former President of Bolivia...By some miraculous coincidence previous winners of the ABICC Award have
afterward become President in their respective countries and this year that tradition will be repeated as
Professor Yunus has finally accepted to run for the highest office in Bangladesh.
From 42 people borrowing all together 27.00 $ in the seventies, "the poor man's Bank" created by prof Yunus has
about 7 million borrowers today, just 30 years later with a repayment rate of more than 99%. Among al the
borrowers, 58% have completely stepped out of poverty. This pioneer of micro finance and social
entrepreneurship has created an economic model which is the very opposite of the Adam Smith's neoclassic
economic model he studied in American universities.
For those who still look for geography, geopolitics, social status and other circumstances to blame their failures
on, I hereby want to remind that Bangladesh was of very recent the poorest country of the world. Yet the greatest
leader of the whole world in 2007 came from there. Also in 2006 Professor Mohammad Yunus was awarded the
Nobel Peace Prize, a Muslim at a period of time where his religion was attacked and finger pointed for terrorism.
Representing my native country of Cameroon and the Cameroon-US Chamber of commerce, among 700 world
personalities, I walked out of this event completely humbled but hopeful.
My deepest appreciation and congratulations now goes to the very next President of Bangladesh, my hero and
friend Mo YUNUS !!!
Blaise Yakam M.
President
Cameroon-USA Chamber of Commerce of Texas
Missouri City, Texas
The 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Pr. Yunus Mohammad
March 15, 2007
History was duplicated on Thursday March 15th at The Ritz Carlton Hotel luxurious banquet hall in Coconut Grove
Miami Florida, when Professor Mohamad Yunus was designated the recipient of the 2007 ABICC's (Association of
Bi-National Chambers of Commerce) Award for leadership in Global Trade. This was in recognition for his
leadership in accelerating economic and social development in Bangladesh and around the world via micro
finance. Previous winners of this award include (1999) Lech Walesa, former President of Poland and winner of
the Nobel Prize, (2001) Violeta Chamorro, former president of Nicaragua, (2003) Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada,
former President of Bolivia...By some miraculous coincidence previous winners of the ABICC Award have
afterward become President in their respective countries and this year that tradition will be repeated as
Professor Yunus has finally accepted to run for the highest office in Bangladesh.
From 42 people borrowing all together 27.00 $ in the seventies, "the poor man's Bank" created by prof Yunus has
about 7 million borrowers today, just 30 years later with a repayment rate of more than 99%. Among al the
borrowers, 58% have completely stepped out of poverty. This pioneer of micro finance and social
entrepreneurship has created an economic model which is the very opposite of the Adam Smith's neoclassic
economic model he studied in American universities.
For those who still look for geography, geopolitics, social status and other circumstances to blame their failures
on, I hereby want to remind that Bangladesh was of very recent the poorest country of the world. Yet the greatest
leader of the whole world in 2007 came from there. Also in 2006 Professor Mohammad Yunus was awarded the
Nobel Peace Prize, a Muslim at a period of time where his religion was attacked and finger pointed for terrorism.
Representing my native country of Cameroon and the Cameroon-US Chamber of commerce, among 700 world
personalities, I walked out of this event completely humbled but hopeful.
My deepest appreciation and congratulations now goes to the very next President of Bangladesh, my hero and
friend Mo YUNUS !!!
Blaise Yakam M.
President
Cameroon-USA Chamber of Commerce of Texas
Missouri City, Texas
Pr Yunus (middle) Blaise Yakam (right)
Blaise Yakam (left) Pr. Yunus (right)
Pr. Yunus holding his Trophy. Mrs. Lita Heager, President of ABICC delivering the award speech