CHITTAGONG, Dec 20: The first-ever women's entrepreneurs' conference and product display will be held in Chittagong tomorrow (Sunday). The daylong event has been organised at Agrabad Hotel in the city. Chittagong Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CWCCI) and the EU (European Union)-funded The INSPIRED Project will jointly organise the event.
Different organizations, including banks and financial institutions, associations, chambers and SMEs (small and medium enterprises) from home and abroad, will participate in the event. A seminar on Credit Access for Women Entrepreneurs - Challenges and the Way Forward will be held, organisers said at a press conference.
Governor of Bangladesh Bank Dr Atiur Rahman will formally open the conference and product display fair that will have 30 stalls. Some 200 women entrepreneurs from 11 districts of Chittagong division will participate in the event where regional entrepreneurs will be given SME awards, they said.
The press conference was chaired by CWCCI president Quamrun Malek while team leader of Bangladesh INSPIRED Component 3 Ali Sabet read out the written statement at the press conference. FBCCI (Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry) first vice president and founder president of CWCCI Monowara Hakim Ali, CWCCI vice president Ivy Hasan, director Rekha Alam Chowdhury, Lutfun Nahar Shipu, Jesmin Akhtar, Jeheda Aktar Mita, Kazi Tuhin Akhter, Forhat Yasmin, Rokeya Rahman Ripu, Lutfa Chowdhury, Nafisa Sharmin, former director Khaleda Akhter Chowdhury and members Baby Hasan, Gulshan Akhtar Chinu and Brizet Diyes were present.
Ali Sabet said the Ministry of Industries is managing the INSPIRED Project with the financial contribution from the EU. This project comes in a broader context of EU support to the integration of Bangladesh in the global economy.
The EU is one of the largest donors in Bangladesh in trade-related assistance and economic cooperation, and has contributed Euro 80 million just during the period of 2007-2013. This is justified both by the importance of economic development for the country and by the significance of the trading relations between the EU and Bangladesh as the EU is Bangladesh's largest trading partner.
He said during the last four decades the socio-economic condition of women in Bangladesh has changed significantly. Women's participation in the labour force has increased substantially, both in rural and urban areas, from 8.4% in 1983 to 6% in 2010. This is not only in the case of export-oriented garments sector but also for many non-traditional and emerging sectors, such as hotel and restaurants, medical services, transport, real estate services, telecommunications, banking and insurance.
Despite increased participation in the labour market, a significant number of women is unemployed and does not earn any income. The unemployment rate is significantly higher for women, that is, 7.5% while only 4.3% for men as of 2010. It is undeniable that by keeping women away from full participation in economic activities, Bangladesh is being deprived of attaining higher economic growth, he said.
