Women entrepreneurs assured of loans on easy terms
FE Report | Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Women and children affairs adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury Monday assured the women entrepreneurs of taking effective measures to help them obtain loans on easy terms and conditions.
Her comments came after the women entrepreneurs blamed the banks for not providing loans at lower interest rate as per circular of the Bangladesh Bank (BB).
She said: "I will discuss the matter with the finance adviser to resolve this issue as soon as possible."
Chowdhury requested the Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI) to provide lists of entrepreneurs who failed to secure SME loans from banks.
She made this assurance at a project launching ceremony titled---women's national business agenda (WNBA)--- organised by BWCCI at the National Press Club in the city.
The BWCCI launched the project 'WNBA' on a theme 'progressive women - prosperous Bangladesh' aiming to improve the business environment for females.
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) president Annisul Huq and water resources ministry secretary and SME foundation Managing Director (MD) Ayub Miah, BWCCI president Selima Ahmad were present in the launching ceremony.
The Women and Children affairs adviser said: "Women-friendly banks, and not banks for females, are necessary for women entrepreneurs to get easy access to financing."
Ayub Miah said: "Women entrepreneurs gets micro credit easily, but usually face problems to get loans above the limit of micro credit."
"There are many women associations but they are yet to spread in all the districts in the country. The women entrepreneurs in the grass-root level should be engaged in the mainstream economic activities," he said.
Miah said the SME foundation has taken some initiative to encourage and facilitate women entrepreneurs including arranging single digit rate of interest, conducting survey on SMEs, special initiative to develop fashion designers etc.
The foundation will give 'women entrepreneurship award' to some successful businesswomen on August 10 next, he said.
Annisul Huq said: "Women entrepreneurs need collateral free loans to prosper. Providing loans to women are less risky as most of them returns their loans."
He suggested the BWCCI to sit with bankers' association and finance adviser to resolve the issue relating getting loans from SME fund of Bangladesh Bank.
BWCCI president Selima Ahmad said: "The apex chamber body should include the women chambers on lists at the time of seeking some facility for its member."
Her comments came after the women entrepreneurs blamed the banks for not providing loans at lower interest rate as per circular of the Bangladesh Bank (BB).
She said: "I will discuss the matter with the finance adviser to resolve this issue as soon as possible."
Chowdhury requested the Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI) to provide lists of entrepreneurs who failed to secure SME loans from banks.
She made this assurance at a project launching ceremony titled---women's national business agenda (WNBA)--- organised by BWCCI at the National Press Club in the city.
The BWCCI launched the project 'WNBA' on a theme 'progressive women - prosperous Bangladesh' aiming to improve the business environment for females.
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) president Annisul Huq and water resources ministry secretary and SME foundation Managing Director (MD) Ayub Miah, BWCCI president Selima Ahmad were present in the launching ceremony.
The Women and Children affairs adviser said: "Women-friendly banks, and not banks for females, are necessary for women entrepreneurs to get easy access to financing."
Ayub Miah said: "Women entrepreneurs gets micro credit easily, but usually face problems to get loans above the limit of micro credit."
"There are many women associations but they are yet to spread in all the districts in the country. The women entrepreneurs in the grass-root level should be engaged in the mainstream economic activities," he said.
Miah said the SME foundation has taken some initiative to encourage and facilitate women entrepreneurs including arranging single digit rate of interest, conducting survey on SMEs, special initiative to develop fashion designers etc.
The foundation will give 'women entrepreneurship award' to some successful businesswomen on August 10 next, he said.
Annisul Huq said: "Women entrepreneurs need collateral free loans to prosper. Providing loans to women are less risky as most of them returns their loans."
He suggested the BWCCI to sit with bankers' association and finance adviser to resolve the issue relating getting loans from SME fund of Bangladesh Bank.
BWCCI president Selima Ahmad said: "The apex chamber body should include the women chambers on lists at the time of seeking some facility for its member."