Industries, Commerce, Textiles and Jute Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir on Sunday attributed Bangladesh's widening income inequality to the sharp slowdown in the creation of new entrepreneurs over the past decade.
He stressed that strengthening the micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) sector is vital for achieving more inclusive economic growth.
The minister made the remarks while addressing a programme marking International MSME Day 2026 at the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) auditorium in Agargaon, Dhaka, as the chief guest.
The event was jointly organised by the SME Foundation (SMEF) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Mr Muktadir also said the government's future industrial policy would place greater emphasis on promoting less energy-intensive industries.
The government is working to resolve the country's gas shortage as quickly as possible so that existing mills and factories can fully utilise their production capacity, he added.
The minister said the contribution of MSMEs to Bangladesh's economy remains lower than that of many developing countries, including Vietnam, Cambodia, India and Pakistan.
"The sector currently contributes only 25 per cent to our GDP, and we want to increase this share," he said, adding that there is no alternative to strengthening the MSME sector to keep the economy dynamic and resilient.
Outlining the government's plans to create a new generation of entrepreneurs, he said a broad-based strategy is being implemented alongside a mentorship programme to nurture aspiring business owners.
"Through the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), projects have been undertaken to establish new industrial parks in Pabna, Sylhet and Syedpur in Nilphamari. In addition, feasibility studies will be carried out to develop more industrial parks where all plots in the existing parks have already been allocated," he said.
The programme, chaired by Industries Secretary Abdun Naser Khan, was also addressed by Women Entrepreneurs Association of Bangladesh (WEAB) President Nasreen Fatema Awal, ILO Bangladesh Country Director Max Tunon and SME Foundation Managing Director Anwar Hossain Chowdhury.
Ms Awal said Bangladesh has only around 700,000 women entrepreneurs, compared with nearly 10 million male entrepreneurs.
She said various studies have shown that increasing the number of women entrepreneurs creates jobs, raises household incomes, improves children's education and healthcare, and makes economic growth more inclusive.
Two papers were presented at the event by Nazim Ahmed Sattar of the SME Foundation and Ferdous Ara Begum, Chief Executive Officer of Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD).
International MSME Day is observed annually on 27 June. This year's theme was "Human-Centred Entrepreneurship in an AI-Driven Future: Economic Empowerment for the Next Generation of MSMEs."
The United Nations designated 27 June as International MSME Day in 2017 to recognise the vital role of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in creating decent jobs, fostering innovation and improving living standards.
Earlier in the day, a colourful rally was brought out from the SME Foundation headquarters at Parjatan Bhaban in Agargaon to the BIDA premises to mark the occasion.
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