SME women entrepreneurs' grand confce begins today
February 13, 2008 00:00:00
FE Report
The second national grand conference of over a thousand small and medium women entrepreneurs of the country begins today (Wednesday) in the capital.
Chief Adviser of the caretaker government Fakhruddin Ahmed is expected to inaugurate the conference that aims at development of women entrepreneurs.
On the occasion of the conference, organised by the Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) Foundation in collaboration with Brac Bank Ltd, a fair has been arranged at the Bashundhara city complex.
The fair, which will begin on February 14 and remain open until February 29, will showcase products of SMEs in 80 stalls.
During the conference, five workshops, including 'Current Policy Regulation: Challenges and Opportunities for Women Small and Medium Entrepre-neurs (SME)' will be held.
Other workshops will be held on Business Support and Marketing Communication: Gender Perspective for SMEs Development in Bangladesh, ICT for Women Entrepreneurs in Bangladesh, Access to Finance: Gender Perspective: Factors Affecting Women Entrepreneurs in Access to Finance in Bangladesh and Gender Action Plan.
"The purpose of the conference is to remove hurdles hindering the development of women entrepreneurs in the country," Parveen Mahmud, deputy managing director and also convener of SME women's Forum, said at a press conference in the city Wednesday.
The conference will provide a unique opportunity to the women entrepreneurs to share and exchange views with those who have excelled in doing business, she added.
Speaking at the conference, Rokia Afzal Rahman, president of Women Entrepreneur's Association, Bangladesh-WEA, said this is high time to help 150,000 micro-credit borrowing women of the country become entrepreneurs.
She said: "Ensuring access to finance and setting appropriate product and marketing strategies we can help them go ahead."