MIDAS Financing holds dialogue for women entrepreneurs

MIDAS Financing Limited (MFL), a non-bank financial institution, organised a programme titled "National Dialogue for Women Entrepreneurs" at MIDAS Centre in the capital on Friday, acknowledging the achievements of women entrepreneurs.

Chairman of MFL Rokia Afzal Rahman, also a former Advisor to the caretaker government and reputed women entrepreneur, presided over the dialogue, said a statement.

Parveen Mahmud, Chairman of MIDAS Board and Managing Director and Grameen Telecom Trust; Tina Jabeen, Deputy Project Director of ICT Innovation & Advisor IDEA Project, Ministry of ICT; Md. Safiqul Islam, Managing Director, SME Foundation; Akie Okma, Representative, PUM-Netherlands; Md. Ashraf Hossain, Managing Director, Joyeeta Foundation; Ali Sabet, Team Leader, PRISM Bangladesh; Shaikh Md. Salim, General Manager, SME & Special Programmes Department, Bangladesh Bank; and Dr. A.S.M Mashi-ur-Rahman, Managing Director, MIDAS were present as the speakers.

Women entrepreneurs from root level across the country, who achieved remarkable successes, shared the stories behind their success and the support they received from the MFL in their journey, and participated in the dialogue session.

The speakers mentioned the outstanding initiatives of the MFL for women like collateral-free loan up to Tk 2.5 million.

Sanctioning loans at low interest rate (9%) directly created an impact on the women empowerment and ensured the active participation of women in the financial sector, they said.

To intimate its operation to the women entrepreneurs, MFL has formed a separate cell named Women Entrepreneurs Development (WED). Cordial customer support and warm assistance to the clients added extra value to the company.

The company has distributed SME loans among 887 women entrepreneurs which are 20 per cent of the total amount disbursed, according to the statement. Along with this, there are a huge number of women who availed of other loans and expanded their businesses successfully.

Apart from providing financial services and benefits, the MFL extended their support in the form of training programmes, investment plans, management guidance and marketing strategy, etc.

In this aspect, its parent organisation MIDAS is playing an important role to groom the entrepreneurs, said the statement. From the very beginning, they are providing intellectual supports to the entrepreneurs by arranging comprehensive trainings on different contemporary issues and develop them for taking challenges of the global economy.

The programme was hosted by Mr. Shameem Ahmed, Head of Admin, HR & Estate Management of the MIDAS Financing Limited. Members of the board and Shafique-ul-Azam, MD of MFL, were also present at the event along with women entrepreneurs.