'Women entrepreneurs to be offered plots in SEZ, BSCIC areas'
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
FE Report
Industries minister Dilip Barua said the government will take necessary steps for capacity building of women entrepreneurs.
"Steps will be taken to offer women entrepreneurs plots in Special Economic Zones and in BSCIC areas," he assured.
The minister said that the long-standing demand for modernising the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) will also be met to support the women entrepreneurs' needs for training and product development.
The industries minister's assurance came while he was inaugurating a capacity building project on women entrepreneurs at the National Press Club in the city Tuesday. Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI) President Selima Ahmad chaired the function where former advisor Sultana Kamal was present as special guest.
BWCCI will implement the project titled 'promoting women entrepreneurship through advocacy-phase-IV in support of Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE).
The industries minister said contribution of women to the society has started reflecting at the state level. He also assured them of providing cooperation from his ministry and a change in anti-women outlook at policy level.
Sultana Kamal, in her speech as special guest, said the government can play significant role in changing discriminating attitude towards employment of women, who can significantly contribute to economic development of the country.
"Any civilisation and society cannot prosper without women participation," she said adding that the time has come to raise demand for equal women participation in all activities of social life.
Quoting the statistics released at Beijing conference she said only one per cent women have control over their income. Though 66 per cent of the world labour force are represented by women, only 10 per cent earning goes to women and a fraction of this are enjoyed by them.
The BWCCI President stressed the need for conducting large scale studies and researches on different areas of women entrepreneurship development and said due to lack of concrete and reliable data, realistic steps cannot be taken to advance their cause.
She said that it is estimated that 10 per cent women are involved in micro level and six per cent in small and medium enterprises.
According to the findings of the national business agenda, women entrepreneurs have been involved in 39 sectors, including non-traditional biogas production and mashroom cultivation. The business agenda have been prepared on the basis of information gathered from 1500 women of 180 organisations throughout the country.
Industries minister Dilip Barua said the government will take necessary steps for capacity building of women entrepreneurs.
"Steps will be taken to offer women entrepreneurs plots in Special Economic Zones and in BSCIC areas," he assured.
The minister said that the long-standing demand for modernising the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) will also be met to support the women entrepreneurs' needs for training and product development.
The industries minister's assurance came while he was inaugurating a capacity building project on women entrepreneurs at the National Press Club in the city Tuesday. Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI) President Selima Ahmad chaired the function where former advisor Sultana Kamal was present as special guest.
BWCCI will implement the project titled 'promoting women entrepreneurship through advocacy-phase-IV in support of Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE).
The industries minister said contribution of women to the society has started reflecting at the state level. He also assured them of providing cooperation from his ministry and a change in anti-women outlook at policy level.
Sultana Kamal, in her speech as special guest, said the government can play significant role in changing discriminating attitude towards employment of women, who can significantly contribute to economic development of the country.
"Any civilisation and society cannot prosper without women participation," she said adding that the time has come to raise demand for equal women participation in all activities of social life.
Quoting the statistics released at Beijing conference she said only one per cent women have control over their income. Though 66 per cent of the world labour force are represented by women, only 10 per cent earning goes to women and a fraction of this are enjoyed by them.
The BWCCI President stressed the need for conducting large scale studies and researches on different areas of women entrepreneurship development and said due to lack of concrete and reliable data, realistic steps cannot be taken to advance their cause.
She said that it is estimated that 10 per cent women are involved in micro level and six per cent in small and medium enterprises.
According to the findings of the national business agenda, women entrepreneurs have been involved in 39 sectors, including non-traditional biogas production and mashroom cultivation. The business agenda have been prepared on the basis of information gathered from 1500 women of 180 organisations throughout the country.