Workshops to improve business skills of women entrepreneurs launched
Monday, 17 March 2008
FE Report
IFC Advisory Services for South Asia, the SouthAsia Enterprise Development Facility (SEDF), and the Bangladesh Federation of Women Entrepreneurs (BFWE) have launched a series of workshops that will increase the essential business management skills of women entrepreneurs and help them access finance for their SMEs (small and medium enterprises).
The initiative was carried out in collaboration with local women's business organisations to promote women entrepreneurs, working in different sectors, across five districts of Bangladesh, beginning from Bogra, according to a press release.
This initiative has been trying to address two major obstacles faced by women entrepreneurs, as identified by the government: the lack of relevant information and resources available to support businesses underlining the need for business management skill trainings and the lack of finance.
To address access to finance issues, SME bankers from IFC's partner financial institutions spoke to the women about how banks assess credit worthiness and how to prepare proper cash flow analysis to apply for loans.
Women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh operate mostly from home and find it difficult to ensure product supply all through the year or rent a shop to sell their products and expand their operations.
"These workshops are an opportunity for networking and knowledge sharing among female entrepreneurs in various business sectors in this country," asserted Rokia Rahman.
IFC Advisory Services for South Asia, the SouthAsia Enterprise Development Facility (SEDF), and the Bangladesh Federation of Women Entrepreneurs (BFWE) have launched a series of workshops that will increase the essential business management skills of women entrepreneurs and help them access finance for their SMEs (small and medium enterprises).
The initiative was carried out in collaboration with local women's business organisations to promote women entrepreneurs, working in different sectors, across five districts of Bangladesh, beginning from Bogra, according to a press release.
This initiative has been trying to address two major obstacles faced by women entrepreneurs, as identified by the government: the lack of relevant information and resources available to support businesses underlining the need for business management skill trainings and the lack of finance.
To address access to finance issues, SME bankers from IFC's partner financial institutions spoke to the women about how banks assess credit worthiness and how to prepare proper cash flow analysis to apply for loans.
Women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh operate mostly from home and find it difficult to ensure product supply all through the year or rent a shop to sell their products and expand their operations.
"These workshops are an opportunity for networking and knowledge sharing among female entrepreneurs in various business sectors in this country," asserted Rokia Rahman.