UNB, Dhaka :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday stressed the importance of improving product quality and adopting newer technologies to thrive in the open-market economic system.
She made the remarks in a written speech while inaugurating the five-day 6thNational SME Fair at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city. The Prime Minister said SME advisory centres will be set up at district and upazila levels, which will act as one-stop service centres for the country’s small and medium entrepreneurs. “Entrepreneurs will get necessary help from the centres to start a new business and expand the existing ones. They’ll also receive management and technical training and consultancy services from the centres,” she said. Sheikh Hasina also underlined the importance of setting up display and sales centres in every divisional city for displaying and selling the products of successful entrepreneurs.
She said, new markets have to be explored around the world and products have to be made in line with their demand. “We need to reduce our export dependency and diversify our export portfolios.”
Hasina said, Bangladesh is now the 44th biggest economy in the world. “At present, our per capita income is USD 1752. The amount of foreign exchange reserves has crossed $ 33 billion. The GDP growth increased to 7.65 percent.” She said Bangladesh is now exporting 750 products to 199 countries and the export target has been set at $ 41 billion for the current fiscal year.
“The export earnings will reach $ 60 billion by 2021.” The Prime Minister said the government is helping brand the SME products and will continue to do so in the future.
In Bangladesh, nearly 90 percent of the industries fall under the small and medium category and the contribution of SMEs to the GDP is almost 25 percent, she said, expressing the hope that the SME Fair will play an important role in promoting products alongside attracting buyers and expanding market.
The Prime Minister said entrepreneurs have to set up small and medium industries regionally based on the geographical availability of raw materials. “The government will provide necessary incentives and policy support to the entrepreneurs.” She said there are around 10 lakh SMEs in the country which can employ at least 10 lakh unemployed people every year. Describing her government’s policy, she said it will not do business by itself, but work as a facilitator. “For this approach, the private sector has flourished in the country rapidly.”
The Prime Minister said around 267 selected SMEs from across the country are taking part in the fair with 67 percent of them being owned by women entrepreneurs. Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu chaired the inaugural ceremony of the fair. Small & Medium Enterprise (SME) Foundation and Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) jointly arranged the fair.
Industries Secretary Muhammad Abdullah and FBCCI President Md Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin), among others, addressed the function. At the inaugural ceremony, five entrepreneurs received the National SME Entrepreneur Awards 2018 from the Prime Minister for their outstanding contributions to the SME sector in 2017.
They are Shahida Parvin (Bismillah Trade Solution), Md Shahibuddin, Maksuda Hasnat (Shotodal Hastoshilpa), Gazi Towhidul Rahman and AKM Fahim Mashroor (bdjobs.com). The fair will remain open from10 am to 8 pm every day till April 8.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday stressed the importance of improving product quality and adopting newer technologies to thrive in the open-market economic system.
She made the remarks in a written speech while inaugurating the five-day 6thNational SME Fair at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city. The Prime Minister said SME advisory centres will be set up at district and upazila levels, which will act as one-stop service centres for the country’s small and medium entrepreneurs. “Entrepreneurs will get necessary help from the centres to start a new business and expand the existing ones. They’ll also receive management and technical training and consultancy services from the centres,” she said. Sheikh Hasina also underlined the importance of setting up display and sales centres in every divisional city for displaying and selling the products of successful entrepreneurs.
She said, new markets have to be explored around the world and products have to be made in line with their demand. “We need to reduce our export dependency and diversify our export portfolios.”
Hasina said, Bangladesh is now the 44th biggest economy in the world. “At present, our per capita income is USD 1752. The amount of foreign exchange reserves has crossed $ 33 billion. The GDP growth increased to 7.65 percent.” She said Bangladesh is now exporting 750 products to 199 countries and the export target has been set at $ 41 billion for the current fiscal year.
“The export earnings will reach $ 60 billion by 2021.” The Prime Minister said the government is helping brand the SME products and will continue to do so in the future.
In Bangladesh, nearly 90 percent of the industries fall under the small and medium category and the contribution of SMEs to the GDP is almost 25 percent, she said, expressing the hope that the SME Fair will play an important role in promoting products alongside attracting buyers and expanding market.
The Prime Minister said entrepreneurs have to set up small and medium industries regionally based on the geographical availability of raw materials. “The government will provide necessary incentives and policy support to the entrepreneurs.” She said there are around 10 lakh SMEs in the country which can employ at least 10 lakh unemployed people every year. Describing her government’s policy, she said it will not do business by itself, but work as a facilitator. “For this approach, the private sector has flourished in the country rapidly.”
The Prime Minister said around 267 selected SMEs from across the country are taking part in the fair with 67 percent of them being owned by women entrepreneurs. Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu chaired the inaugural ceremony of the fair. Small & Medium Enterprise (SME) Foundation and Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) jointly arranged the fair.
Industries Secretary Muhammad Abdullah and FBCCI President Md Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin), among others, addressed the function. At the inaugural ceremony, five entrepreneurs received the National SME Entrepreneur Awards 2018 from the Prime Minister for their outstanding contributions to the SME sector in 2017.
They are Shahida Parvin (Bismillah Trade Solution), Md Shahibuddin, Maksuda Hasnat (Shotodal Hastoshilpa), Gazi Towhidul Rahman and AKM Fahim Mashroor (bdjobs.com). The fair will remain open from10 am to 8 pm every day till April 8.
