Social business, which involves solving problems through a sustainable business approach, will be highlighted in a four-day workshop in Bahrain next week.

The Social Business Week, organised by the Family Bank, will feature high-profile speakers such as Nobel Laureate and Grameen Bank founder Professor Muhammad Yunus.

The event, which begins on September 16, will feature a keynote speech on social business by Prof Yunus.

A panel discussion with Family Bank chief executive Dr Atef Elshabrawy, Grameen Creative Lab founder Hans Reitz and Prof Yunus will be held after the speech.

They will discuss the potential social business holds for Bahrain and the region. It will be followed by an interactive question and answer session with the audience.

The workshop on Monday will bring together business representatives in Bahrain. The social business concept will be explored from Bahrain's economic and social context.

The morning session will begin with presentations on existing social business practices by Reitz.

During the afternoon session, participants will work in interactive breakout sessions to develop social business approaches and strategies suitable for Bahrain.

The Social Business Youth Lab, a two-day workshop on Tuesday and Wednesday will bring together young leaders, students and university representatives.

Reitz will help participants identify solutions for the most pressing social issues for Bahrain's youth and approach them from a new angle.

The Social Business Week is open to representatives of civil society, students, young leaders, businesses and the government.

The business week is being held in partnership with the Social Development Ministry, Economic Development Board, Tamkeen, Bahrain Development Bank, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Bahrain University. – TradeArabia News Service