CHITTAGONG, Nov 24: Entrepreneurs at a women business summit in Chittagong on Monday emphasized more business-friendly environment in respect of VAT and tax regime to encourage small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to be more creative and innovative.
Hundreds of women entrepreneurs gathered at the country's first-ever such summit at Agrabad Hotel in the port-city. Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung fur die Freiheit (FNF) of Germany jointly organized the programme.
FBCCI first vice president Monowara Hakim Ali presided over the function, where FBCCI president Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed was the chief guest.
FBCCI director Tosaddeq Hossain Khan Titu, CWCCI (Chittagong Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry) president Kamrun Malek, and FNF country representative Dr. Nazmul Hossain were the special guests. FBCCI secretary general Mir Shahabuddin Mohammad gave the introductory statement.
The women entrepreneurs, who shared their success stories, potentials and problems on the occasion, included Sabina Ikram Sirajee, Ruby Mostafa (catering and handicrafts), Dilruba Hossain (service to orphans and aged people), Sultana Jahan Rosy (fashion-design, bakery and confectionary), Jesmine Akhtar (agro-based project and hatchery), Lutfun Nahar (housing and real estate development), Sharmin Hossain (tasty food and savoury), Bilkis Iqbal Dada (Chittagong Grammar School), Sunanda Dey (import, indent and supply of pharmaceutical raw materials), and Ivy Hassan (fashion design).
They said they have aunched new businesses, expanded their existing units and are trying to be competitive and meet consumer needs.
The discussants said business-friendly environment encourages new investment, creates jobs, and leads to poverty reduction and overall growth of the economy. FBCCI as the apex business body directly and through its member bodies across the country can make efforts to identify business constraints and engage the government in serious public-private discourse.
The women entrepreneurs demanded re-structuring of the tax and vat regime that may encourage more entrepreneurs from the rural areas as well. They said production and export will rise further, if the government sets up an industrial park for the women entrepreneurs.
The FBCCI president said the government is providing ample financial support to the women entrepreneurs through the SME Foundation, while FBCCI is making efforts to identify the business constraints.
He also said FNF has been an active partner in promoting FBCCI's endeavours in bringing economic reforms and trade promotion through policy and business dialogues, training, information sharing, research and dissemination.
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