Private firms, FIs for unified support to develop MSME ecosystem

Experts at an event recently said micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) needed unified business development support services to become more mainstream and competitive, says a press release.
It can play a greater role in the development of the ecosystem in Bangladesh, they said.
They observed this while addressing a daylong event titled 'Corporate Connect Event for MSMEs' at a hotel at Gulshan in the capital.
B-SkillFUL, a multi-year programme aimed at improving the well-being of poor and disadvantaged men and women by increasing their access to the labour market and increasing their income, organised the event on September 7.
B-SkillFUL programme is funded by the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh and implemented by Swisscontact and LightCastle Partners, a premier management consulting firm.
Held as part of the business development service (BDS) package for B-SkillFUL, the event facilitated linkages for MSMEs from the furniture making and leather goods sectors with potential buyers and financial institutions to address two major issues: financial inclusion and market accessibility.
25 MSMEs from Dhaka, Kishoreganj, Rangpur, and Bogura and more than 100 representatives from private corporations across Dhaka and Chattogram attended the event.
The Head of SME, Bank Asia, CEO, Savior Bangladesh Ltd., and Vice President, Concord Ventures Limited, spoke as the panel discussants alongside two MSME owners.
Dajna Sorensen, Team Leader, B-SkillFUL, Swisscontact said in the opening ceremony, "Today's event is a testimony to those businesses that have made progress because of the support of the Swiss government."
M. G. Shah Newaz, Vice President, Concord Ventures Ltd said, "The biggest challenge that MSMEs face in the case of exporting is ensuring quality and innovation. If these challenges can be overcome, MSMEs have a lot of room for growth in the export market."
Samiul Anam, AVP, Head of CMSME, Bank Asia, said, "Access to finance can be easier for the MSMEs if they are given proper knowledge about business documentation. Because the biggest hurdle for MSMEs in terms of gaining financial support from banks or financial institutions is the lack of proper documentation."
The second phase of the B-SkillFUL project started its operations in Bangladesh in September 2020 and has been focusing on strengthening the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Bangladesh through capacity-building initiatives.
The program operates across six regions within Bangladesh: Dhaka, Gazipur, Bogura, Nilphamari, Rangpur, and Kishoreganj in collaboration with business development service (BDS) providers.