SMEs want easy access to finance for business growth
Sunday, 19 October 2008
Naim-Ul-Karim
Back from southern region
Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) in southern part of the country have urged the government to offer them easy access to finance for the growth of their business.
They also called for quickening construction of the Padma Bridge and making the Mogla port fully operational.
Scores of enthusiastic SMEs made the pleas while exchanging views with the officials of the Regulatory Reforms Commission (RRC), which arranged four meetings in Khulna, Bagerhat, Mongla and Chitalmari Upzila on October 16 and 17.
The RRC, created by the government to recommend reforms in the country's administrative and regulatory bodies, convened the consultation meetings to identify the legal barriers faced by the entrepreneurs in doing their businesses.
"We have come here to know from you directly about what government rules and regulations, you think, are creating hurdles in doing businesses," chief executive officer of the commission Apurba Kumar Biswas told the first consultation meeting at Khulna Circuit House.
He said the RRC has already made 60 recommendations. Of which, seven were fully implemented while 15 partially and 13 remained under process.
Around 200 entrepreneurs, including members of the Khulna Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), attended the first meeting with N M Ziaul Alam, deputy commissioner of the city, in the chair.
Dr. Sajjad Zahir, member of the RRC, was present as a resource person and a moderator while directors of the commission Mizanur Rahman and Mustaq Hassan presented two papers one on 'Functioning of the RRC' and another one on "Development of the SMEs: How can the RRC Helps?" respectively.
Taking part at the meeting, president of the KCCI Shahruzzaman Mortuza said access to finance for thousands of SMEs, including shrimp, poultry, salt farmers and others in the region, are one of the key hurdles.
"We urge the government to ease access to finance and reduce rate of interest for SMEs," he added.
Since there are no specific rules on land use for cultivation of shrimp, Mr. Mortuza said farmers often face various problems.
He, however, said SMEs are now experiencing hard time as Mongla port remained almost dysfunctional since long casting a negative impact on entire business activities in this part of the country.
Poultry, Dairy and shrimp farmers, however, in the meeting urged the government to ease procedures for issuance of licences.
"I need to go to at least seven government agencies to get a licence renewed to run my small shop," said Abdur Rahman, a poultry feed trader said.
Back from southern region
Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) in southern part of the country have urged the government to offer them easy access to finance for the growth of their business.
They also called for quickening construction of the Padma Bridge and making the Mogla port fully operational.
Scores of enthusiastic SMEs made the pleas while exchanging views with the officials of the Regulatory Reforms Commission (RRC), which arranged four meetings in Khulna, Bagerhat, Mongla and Chitalmari Upzila on October 16 and 17.
The RRC, created by the government to recommend reforms in the country's administrative and regulatory bodies, convened the consultation meetings to identify the legal barriers faced by the entrepreneurs in doing their businesses.
"We have come here to know from you directly about what government rules and regulations, you think, are creating hurdles in doing businesses," chief executive officer of the commission Apurba Kumar Biswas told the first consultation meeting at Khulna Circuit House.
He said the RRC has already made 60 recommendations. Of which, seven were fully implemented while 15 partially and 13 remained under process.
Around 200 entrepreneurs, including members of the Khulna Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), attended the first meeting with N M Ziaul Alam, deputy commissioner of the city, in the chair.
Dr. Sajjad Zahir, member of the RRC, was present as a resource person and a moderator while directors of the commission Mizanur Rahman and Mustaq Hassan presented two papers one on 'Functioning of the RRC' and another one on "Development of the SMEs: How can the RRC Helps?" respectively.
Taking part at the meeting, president of the KCCI Shahruzzaman Mortuza said access to finance for thousands of SMEs, including shrimp, poultry, salt farmers and others in the region, are one of the key hurdles.
"We urge the government to ease access to finance and reduce rate of interest for SMEs," he added.
Since there are no specific rules on land use for cultivation of shrimp, Mr. Mortuza said farmers often face various problems.
He, however, said SMEs are now experiencing hard time as Mongla port remained almost dysfunctional since long casting a negative impact on entire business activities in this part of the country.
Poultry, Dairy and shrimp farmers, however, in the meeting urged the government to ease procedures for issuance of licences.
"I need to go to at least seven government agencies to get a licence renewed to run my small shop," said Abdur Rahman, a poultry feed trader said.