Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. File Photo

DAVOS (Switzerland), Jan 22, 2025 (BSS)- Microcredit programmes have played a big role in bringing peace in Congo, conservationist, Prince Emmanuel de Merode said today.

Prince Emmanuel revealed this at a meeting in Davos here.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus held the meeting with Belgium King Philippe and Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi sidelines of the World Economic Forum summit. 

Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder briefed reporters about the outcomes of the meeting. 

During the meeting, Prof Yunus was informed how a microcredit programmes launched by a group, headed by the Belgian prince, helped expand the size of tropical forest reserves in Congo.

Prince Emmanuel, whose group launched microcredit in Congolese conflict-prone areas, said the Congolese forest was now double the size of Britain.

After conflict, he said, microcredit created 21,000 jobs there — some 11 percent of them are former combatants. 

He said microcredit programmes have played a big role in bringing peace in parts of the region.

Prince Emmanuel has been the director of Virunga National Park in Congo since 2008.