Activities of SME Foundation will be expanded: Barua
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
FE Report
Industry Minister Dilip Barua has underscored the need for creation of more job opportunities through promotion of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for accelerating the country's economic growth.
Income and purchasing capacity of the people will have to be increased. To achieve this goal, there is an urgent need to develop the country's SME sector, he said, adding, "To create awareness among people we shall observe SME Day in near future."
Industry Minister Mr Dilip Barua observed these while expressing views with executives and officials of SME Foundation on Sunday afternoon.
Following assumption of charge of the Foundation as Chairman, this was the first meeting of the Minister with the Foundation officials. Foundation's Acting Managing Director D.U. Professor Dr. Momtaz Uddin Ahmed chaired the meeting, which was addressed by DGM Dr. Yeamin Akbory and DGM Dr Nurul Quadir.
Mr. Barua said SME Foundation has no alternative but to create new entrepreneurs and generate employment.
"The Foundation has to find out new sectors as well. People will have to be motivated to create new enterprises. Failing to do this, the objectives of this Foundation will not be fulfilled," said the minister.
He said the activities of the SME Foundation will be expanded to Upazila levels
Identifying unemployment as a great barrier to the country's economic development, he said arable land is shrinking day by day in the country due to building of dwelling houses, river erosion and other factors.
"We have to develop technology-based enterprises keeping in line with agriculture," he said.
Mr Dilip Barua said Adamjee Jute Mills known as the 2nd largest jute mills of Asia have been closed due to wrong planning in the past.
Workers and labourers can't be held responsible for this, he observed, saying the earlier policy makers cannot deny their responsibility.
The mill not only created a large number of employments, but also fetched foreign currencies by exporting goods every year, he said.
Industry Minister Dilip Barua has underscored the need for creation of more job opportunities through promotion of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for accelerating the country's economic growth.
Income and purchasing capacity of the people will have to be increased. To achieve this goal, there is an urgent need to develop the country's SME sector, he said, adding, "To create awareness among people we shall observe SME Day in near future."
Industry Minister Mr Dilip Barua observed these while expressing views with executives and officials of SME Foundation on Sunday afternoon.
Following assumption of charge of the Foundation as Chairman, this was the first meeting of the Minister with the Foundation officials. Foundation's Acting Managing Director D.U. Professor Dr. Momtaz Uddin Ahmed chaired the meeting, which was addressed by DGM Dr. Yeamin Akbory and DGM Dr Nurul Quadir.
Mr. Barua said SME Foundation has no alternative but to create new entrepreneurs and generate employment.
"The Foundation has to find out new sectors as well. People will have to be motivated to create new enterprises. Failing to do this, the objectives of this Foundation will not be fulfilled," said the minister.
He said the activities of the SME Foundation will be expanded to Upazila levels
Identifying unemployment as a great barrier to the country's economic development, he said arable land is shrinking day by day in the country due to building of dwelling houses, river erosion and other factors.
"We have to develop technology-based enterprises keeping in line with agriculture," he said.
Mr Dilip Barua said Adamjee Jute Mills known as the 2nd largest jute mills of Asia have been closed due to wrong planning in the past.
Workers and labourers can't be held responsible for this, he observed, saying the earlier policy makers cannot deny their responsibility.
The mill not only created a large number of employments, but also fetched foreign currencies by exporting goods every year, he said.