Int\\\'l Women\\\'s SME Expo starts from Nov 8 in Ctg

CHITTAGONG, Nov 3: The Eighth International Women's SME Expo Bangladesh-2014 will begin from November 8 at the Railway Polo Ground in the city.

The month-long SME Expo will be organised by Chittagong Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CWCCI), in association with Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), SME Foundation and Jute Diversification Promotion Centre (JDPC).

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed will be the chief guest at the opening ceremony of the fair while State Minister for Land Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Zaved, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki and FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed will address it as special guests.

Organisers announced this at a press conference at Chittagong Press Club Saturday. Co-chairperson of the International SME Expo-2014 and director of the CWCCI Mrs Shamima Harun Lubna read out a written statement at the press conference. President of the CWCCI Quamrun Malek, vice president Ivy Hasan, director Mrs Ruhi Mostafa, director Mrs Zaheda Akhtar Mita and Akhtar Banu Fancy also spoke at the press conference.

They told the press conference that it would be the biggest-ever fair held so far in Bangladesh by the women entrepreneurs. Envoys of South Korea, Myanmar, France, Pakistan, Italy and Vietnam during their visits to the fairs in the past expressed their eagerness to participate in the fair for which they are holding the International SME Expo this year.

The entrepreneurs from Iran, India and Pakistan have also expressed interest to participate in the fair this year, the organisers said.

"Through this fair we have aimed at creating markets for the products produced by the women entrepreneurs in the SME sector and exchanging views among the buyers and producers on matters of mutual interest," Shamima Harun Lubna said in the written statement.

CWCCI leaders said the women can also bring about revolution in the economic field if they are provided with small loans, training and marketing facilities. They have proved their worth by gaining international recognition.