FEDWEI plans to create 20,000 woman entrepreneurs in two yrs

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FE Report Federation of Women Entrepreneurs & Industry (FEDWEI) has planned to create 20 thousand woman entrepreneurs within two years across the country in a bid to increase empowerment of women in the society. President of FEDWEI Mousumi Islam said this initiative will reduce discrimination between male entrepreneurs and woman entrepreneurs and establish women's rights in the society gradually. In phases, the Federation will go to different districts to encourage woman entrepreneurs and exhibit their products. Already it visited some districts including Cox`s Bazar, Moulvibazar, Khulna and Satkhira, she said. Addressing a press conference at its office Saturday, she said that she leader observed some obstacles that restrained women's growth in business. Lack of training at district level, difficulty in getting bank loan, problem in marketing of products and use of loan granted for women by male entrepreneurs are major obstacles to creation of woman entrepreneurs across the country. She also said women are not getting proper benefit from NGOs' loans. She urged the government to take steps for removing the problems and suggested making a data bank at national level for woman entrepreneurs, which would be helpful for making any plan in this connection. Commercial banks are not interested to give soft loan to woman entrepreneurs, flouting Bangladesh Bank`s directive, Mrs Islam said. She expected more intervention from the central bank in this connection. FEDWEI, incorporating small woman entrepreneurs of 14 organisations, was formed in 2010 with a view to helping the economic development of women. Chandana Ghose, Rawnak Sultana, president of beauty parlours association Shamima Kabir, Selina Akhter, Mahbub Ara Aman and Nazma Shikder were present in the press conference.