The Bangladesh Bank (BB) will hold the biggest-ever gathering of women entrepreneurs in the city on March 13 to popularise the bank's small and medium enterprise (SME) loan facility among beneficiaries through establishing a platform with all stakeholders.
Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman will inaugurate the fair at the Ruposhi Bangla Hotel where both traditional and non-traditional products like boutique, beads, beauty and leather items etc. produced by women entrepreneurs will be showcased.
The central bank's SME and Special Programme Department will organise the event in association with the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Care Bangladesh, commercial banks, financial institutions, chamber bodies and CIRDAP, BB officials told a press conference held in BB head office in the city on Monday.
Executive Director of SME and Special Programme Department Nirmal Chandra Bhokto read out a written speech at the press meet.
Managing Director of Pubali Bank and Vice President of Association of Bankers, Bangladesh, Helal Ahmed Chowdhury, Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited Managing Director Abdul Mannan, General Manager of BB SME Department Mohammad Masum Patwary were present at the press conference.
Mr Bhokto said 500 women entrepreneurs are expected in the fair-cum-conference which the bank has planned for the first time to assess the success of the central bank's refinancing scheme for women entrepreneurs.
During the day-long event, women entrepreneurs will not only get scope to display or sell their diversified products but also attend a conference on business-related issues for getting better understanding on networking and stakeholders.
Two sessions on "women in business network and organisation" and "stakeholders in women SME development" will also be held on the occasion.
The central bank has taken a number of initiatives for ensuring women entrepreneurs' access to finance during the last four years. Since introduction of the SME refinancing scheme in 2010, the bank allocated 15 per cent money of the refinancing scheme for women entrepreneurs, established dedicated desk for women entrepreneurs in all banks, introduced group loan facility for cottage, micro and small female entrepreneurs, motivational programme for female entrepreneurs, loan at 10 per cent interest and up to Tk 2.5 million collateral free loan.
BB also held seminars and meetings to create enthusiasm among all for availing the special facilities.
The event will now be an opportunity for the central bank also to understand its achievement and failure as well as get future direction of their initiatives.
The bank has created scope to bring the financial institutions and loan recipients at a place to overcome the barriers in getting loans.
Since the SME refinancing scheme was introduced, a large number of women in businesses have got the loan facilities.
Though the entrepreneurs often allege non-cooperation from the banks in getting the loan, the officials said lack of awareness on procedure of applying for loans and preparing necessary documents were the obstacles for the banks and financial institutions to provide the loan.
Due to the central bank's efforts the number of female entrepreneurs getting SME loan has increased.
But it is still very nominal in percentage of total size of loan for other entrepreneurs.
