Thrust on easy access to capital, policy streamlining

Speakers at a conference in the city Sunday laid emphasis on easy access to low interest-bearing capital and streamlining of the policies concerned for the development of micro-entrepreneurship in the country. They also listed better management, improved rural infrastructure, skill development, smooth transport system, good governance and more research as prerequisites to success of micro-entrepreneurships. Their observations came at the "International Conference on Entrepreneurship and Development: Experiences, Practices and Policies" at the BRAC Centre Inn at Mohakhali in the capital. The Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), the International Growth Centre (IGC) and the Improving Institutions for Pro-poor Growth (iiG) jointly organised the programme. Former finance minister M Syeduzzaman presided over the first session of the programme. BRAC Executive Director Dr Mahabub Hossain delivered the address of welcome. University of Warwick professor Christopher Woodruff presented the key-note paper on "Promoting micro-entrepreneurship in the developing world". Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, University of Ulster professor SR Osmani and London School of Economics and IGC professor Robin Burgess took part in the discussion. Dr Debapariya Bhattacharya said there is a need to increase the sector's growth for employment generation which will help increase people's income. Former finance adviser to the caretaker government Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam presided over the second session of the conference. The outgoing chief executive officer (CEO) of the Citibank NA, Bangladesh Mamun Rashid presented the key-note paper on "Constraints of entrepreneurship development in Bangladesh and policy support".