100 entrepreneurs under SME will get spot loans in Barisal conference

Sonia H Moni Around 100 small and medium entrepreneurs of Barisal region will receive spot loans at Bankers- Small and Medium Entrepreneurs Conference -2011 with a view to boosting up the SME sector in the region, said officials. General Manager of Bangladesh Bank (SME and Special Programme Department) Sukamal Sinha Choudhury told the FE, "We are expecting more than 30 banks in the conference and each of them will provide spot loans to minimum three small and medium entrepreneurs of Barisal and of them one should be a woman." SME foundation will organise the conference early next month at Barisal city in association with the central bank, local bank, chambers, entrepreneurs and women organisations. He said: "The total amount of loan depends on an individual bank. The women entrepreneurs will get collateral-free loans but option will be there for loans with collateral." "The loan disbursement ratio in this region is far below in proportion to population of the region. Under these circumstances the head and branch directors of local banks called for special programmes at a preparatory meeting of the conference in Barisal." Mr Choudhury said, "This sort of programme or conference will help build up relation between the entrepreneurs and bankers, increase the rate of SME loan disbursement, cluster development and development of SME sector in that region." He said all the bank managers at field levels are not aware of the policy of SME loans. So it can be a good opportunity for them also. SME Foundation managing director Syed Rezwanul Kabir told the FE: "The entrepreneurs of greater Barisal region is lagging behind the other regions of the country." "We are conducting research work on potentials items of different places under the greater Barisal and the combined report will be ready at the end of this month." He said: "Though a lot of people of Barisal are working individually for small and cottage products in a traditional way, it is yet to take an institutional shape. We have to help the entrepreneurs of this zone to boost up the SME sector", he added. He further said: "This conference will pave the for meeting of the bankers and small and medium entrepreneurs and it will help the entrepreneurs to know the procedures to get loans."