The BRAC Bank Ltd launched a special training programme for potential entrepreneurs in cottage, micro, small and medium enterprises (CMSMEs) sector to fortify their managerial skills and scaling up respective businesses.
The skill development programme will be facilitated by the private commercial bank under the supervision and technical assistance from Bangladesh Bank.
The special grooming initiative titled "Entrepreneurship Development Programme" was formally launched at a ceremony held at Hotel InterContinental in the city Wednesday.
Additional Secretary of Ministry of Finance and Deputy Executive Project Director (Public) of SEIP Project Mohammed Yasin addressed the event as the chief guest while Bangladesh Bank General Manager (SME & Special Programmes Department) Jaker Hossain spoke as the special guest.
Chaired by BRAC Bank Managing Director & CEO Selim R F Hossain, Bangladesh Bank Deputy General Manager and Chief Project Coordinator (SME & Special Programmes Department) Mohammad Arifuzzaman, and BRAC Bank Deputy Managing Director and Head of SME Banking Syed Abdul Momen were also present.
BRAC Bank will host the month-long training for 25 selected CMSME entrepreneurs at its premises with the resources from the central bank.
The programme was designed to facilitate upcoming and rising business owners in developing and sharpening their entrepreneurial and managerial skills to expand and sustain businesses, said BRAC Bank CEO.
Referring that over 54 per cent of the portfolio of the bank belongs to SME sector, he said, "BRAC Bank emphasises on ensuring easy access to finance to the new entrepreneurs as well as improving their capacity and skills."
Mentioning that women empowerment is one of the BRAC's priorities, he said out of the 25 entrepreneurs selected for the training programme, 22 are women.
Meanwhile, Mr Yasin said that the country has gained significant growth in recent time but it has been a jobless growth as employment hasn't been generated at expected level.
Referring to BB's SME centric skill develop programmes, he said the central bank with its partners have been providing market-responsive and inclusive skill development programmes.
In this regard, BB has joined hand with different industry associations, NGOs and universities, he noted.
He also said about 23 banks has so far partnered with the BB under the SEIP project to provide skill development training to potential entrepreneurs in CMSME sector.
Besides, Mr Momen said BRAC Bank has so far disbursed about Tk 1.0 trillion in loans to over a million SME entrepreneurs.
The training programme is funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB) and managed by the Skills for Employment Investment Programme (SEIP) Project, SME and Special Programmes Department, Bangladesh Bank.
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