Competition on business plan to reduce plastic use launched

SME Foundation and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Bangladesh, launched a 'Competition on Business Plan to Reduce Plastic Use' on Thursday.

A total of Tk 5.4 million will be awarded to selected entrepreneurs through this competition.

The inauguration ceremony of the competition was held at the SME Foundation's conference room in Dhaka. The event was organised by SME Foundation and UNIDO, Bangladesh, with support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy, says a press release.

Md. Musfiqur Rahman, Chairperson of SME Foundation, was present as the chief guest at the event presided over by Anwar Hossain Chowdhury, Managing Director of SME Foundation.

Syed Shahjahan Ahmed, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Dr. Abdullah Al Mamun, National Project Director; Dr. Zakiuzzaman, Country Representative of UNIDO Bangladesh; and specialist Md. Mahbul Islam were p[resent as special guests.

In the initial phase, 25 entrepreneurs will be selected from applicants across the country, with priority given to women, students, researchers, NGOs, and entrepreneurs from the waste management sector. Each of the selected participants will receive a prize of Tk 100,000.

After completing a mentorship programme, the 25 selected entrepreneurs will present their business plans to a jury board comprising representatives from UNIDO Bangladesh, the ministries of finance, planning, industries, and environment, forest and climate change, as well as the SME Foundation.

Based on these presentations, seven entrepreneurs will be awarded Tk 200,000 each.

Following advanced training, five finalists will be selected from this group and awarded Tk 300,000 each.

Interested persons can visit the following link to join the competition: https://www.plasticpath.org/page/cleantech-accelerator.html