Rural women face market divide
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
FE Report
Access to finance is no longer a problem for business women but knowledge, education and training still remain a barrier, the head of SME Foundation said. "It was finance that became a problem for women entrepreneurs 18 months back when I joined the Foundation. Now I differ. Access to knowledge, education and training are the real challenges," said Aftab ul Islam. His comments came at the function marking the '100th International Women's Day Celebration' in city Monday. Mr. Islam, also president of AmCham, said IT along with English language can help women entrepreneurs grab the ladder of success. "Women entrepreneurs must know the basics of computer operation and internet browsing," he added. Bangladesh Federation of Women Entrepreneurs (BFWE) in association with SME Foundation and MIDAS Financing Ltd organised the event with its president Rokia Afzal Rahman in the chair. Rokia Rahman said connectivity has become vital to support rural women entrepreneurs. "Many of our financial institutions have good policies for women entrepreneurs but cannot reach the rural ones due to lack of connectivity," Ms Rahman, said. "This matchmaking between the service providers and the beneficiaries is important," she said. In the past, she noted, the country's financial institutions were reluctant to lend women entrepreneurs on the pretext that they would not repay. "Today, the loan recovery rate for women entrepreneurs is 100 per cent," said Ms. Rahman, a former caretaker government adviser. She urged associations of women entrepreneurs to work together to finance and develop enterprises led by women. Speakers said women entrepreneurs in the country should embrace the rapidly changing technology to empower themselves. Luna Shamsuddoha, president of Bangladesh Women In Technology said technology has no boundary and gender bias. "Women are being empowered through the use of technology and access to information. Now they have a role to play in bridging the digital divide." she said, adding girl students must be motivated to study science and technology from the school level. Norwegian ambassador to Bangladesh Ragne Birte said she is amazed by the achievement of Bangladeshi women. She said what Bangladeshi women entrepreneurs are facing here is the same for the Norwagian women too, but in a different social context-an advanced society with more resources. "We are still struggling to achieve equality in family laws, sharing responsibilities. We have well representation in politics but still lot more to achieve in business," said Ms Ragne Birte. Sabrina Islam, president of Women Entrepreneurs' Association Bangladesh, said the microfinance industry has given the country's women a much-needed boost, providing them a position both at households and workplaces. "Technology is not only connecting women to knowledge and information, but also to the market. This is helping them getting better control and quality of their life." she said. Ms Islam urged the policy-makers to provide technology and training to the largely neglected women in rural areas so that they can break the cycle of poverty. South East Asia director of business development of Microsoft Sonia Bashir Kabir moderated the event.
Access to finance is no longer a problem for business women but knowledge, education and training still remain a barrier, the head of SME Foundation said. "It was finance that became a problem for women entrepreneurs 18 months back when I joined the Foundation. Now I differ. Access to knowledge, education and training are the real challenges," said Aftab ul Islam. His comments came at the function marking the '100th International Women's Day Celebration' in city Monday. Mr. Islam, also president of AmCham, said IT along with English language can help women entrepreneurs grab the ladder of success. "Women entrepreneurs must know the basics of computer operation and internet browsing," he added. Bangladesh Federation of Women Entrepreneurs (BFWE) in association with SME Foundation and MIDAS Financing Ltd organised the event with its president Rokia Afzal Rahman in the chair. Rokia Rahman said connectivity has become vital to support rural women entrepreneurs. "Many of our financial institutions have good policies for women entrepreneurs but cannot reach the rural ones due to lack of connectivity," Ms Rahman, said. "This matchmaking between the service providers and the beneficiaries is important," she said. In the past, she noted, the country's financial institutions were reluctant to lend women entrepreneurs on the pretext that they would not repay. "Today, the loan recovery rate for women entrepreneurs is 100 per cent," said Ms. Rahman, a former caretaker government adviser. She urged associations of women entrepreneurs to work together to finance and develop enterprises led by women. Speakers said women entrepreneurs in the country should embrace the rapidly changing technology to empower themselves. Luna Shamsuddoha, president of Bangladesh Women In Technology said technology has no boundary and gender bias. "Women are being empowered through the use of technology and access to information. Now they have a role to play in bridging the digital divide." she said, adding girl students must be motivated to study science and technology from the school level. Norwegian ambassador to Bangladesh Ragne Birte said she is amazed by the achievement of Bangladeshi women. She said what Bangladeshi women entrepreneurs are facing here is the same for the Norwagian women too, but in a different social context-an advanced society with more resources. "We are still struggling to achieve equality in family laws, sharing responsibilities. We have well representation in politics but still lot more to achieve in business," said Ms Ragne Birte. Sabrina Islam, president of Women Entrepreneurs' Association Bangladesh, said the microfinance industry has given the country's women a much-needed boost, providing them a position both at households and workplaces. "Technology is not only connecting women to knowledge and information, but also to the market. This is helping them getting better control and quality of their life." she said. Ms Islam urged the policy-makers to provide technology and training to the largely neglected women in rural areas so that they can break the cycle of poverty. South East Asia director of business development of Microsoft Sonia Bashir Kabir moderated the event.