MIDAS SME Autumn Fair kicks off in city

A three-day 'MIDAS SME Autumn Fair-2025' kicked off in the city on Thursday, showcasing a diverse range of products from youth and women entrepreneurs.
Organised by Micro Industries Development Assistance and Services (MIDAS), the fair aims to highlight the creativity and potential of the country's small and medium enterprise (SME) sector.
Around 60 entrepreneurs, mostly women and youth, are participating in the event being held at MIDAS Centre at Dhanmondi, offering an array of products including clothing, jewellery, handicrafts, and other attractive items.
Dr. Muhammad Abdul Mazid, Chairman of the Social Development Foundation (SDF) and former Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), inaugurated the event by cutting a ribbon at the MIDAS Centre.
The inaugural session was chaired by Ms. Parveen Mahmud FCA, Chairperson of the MIDAS Board, while M Khairul Bashar, Managing Director of MIDAS, delivered the vote of thanks.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mazid said such a platform not only encourages women empowerment but also fosters employment.
"As Bangladesh prepares to graduate from LDC status by 2026, we must shift focus beyond RMG and explore broader avenues through product diversification," he said.
The former NBR chairman also called for reforms in loan distribution, tariff, tax, and VAT policies to create a more SME-friendly ecosystem.
Tax and VAT barriers should be removed to help SMEs grow, he added.
SME Foundation Chairman Mushfiqur Rahman said both SME Foundation and MIDAS are working with a similar objective -- promoting entrepreneurship and creating economic opportunities.
"We support entrepreneurs with access to market and access to finance and other facilities. This fair will benefit them further," he said.
MIDAS Chairman Parveen Mahmud noted that MIDAS is actively supporting entrepreneurs by providing training, facilitating access to finance, enhancing product quality, and building market linkages.
Such initiatives not only generate employment but also promote inclusive economic development, especially by empowering women, she said.
Entrepreneurs participating in the fair expressed their gratitude to MIDAS for providing a platform to connect with customers and grow their businesses.
Maliha Chadni, a former journalist turned entrepreneur, said, "I was a journalist before, and now I am an entrepreneur. MIDAS helped me make this transformation. The more I learn, the more I realise my mistakes and improve."
Another participant, Sonia, stressed the need for innovation and market research. "We should focus on product analysis, research, and bringing novelty to the market," she said.
The fair is open to visitors from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm each day and will continue until Sunday.
sajibur@gmail.com