ICT training props up small entrepreneurs

Shamima Begum, owner of a small boutique shop in Mohammadpur, wanted to expand her business, but lacked enough capital to spend on publicity campaigns.
She heard of posting pictures and information on websites at low costs, but did not know her way around it. Finally, she came to know about the training programme on ICT for SMEs (small and medium enterprise) organised by the SME Foundation. She applied and immediately got admitted to the programme.
“Now, I have learnt how to promote my products at an affordable cost. I have also opened an email account through which I can send mails to potential buyers and can answer to their queries,” Shamima sounded confident after completing the 10-day training.
“Although, on the first day, when I tried to practise at home I deleted some documents from my daughter's computer,” she shyly admitted.
She was not alone; a total of 120 participants took part in the 40-hour training programme that covered the basics of using computers, internet, using spreadsheets for SME management, voice communications and business correspondence.
Participants also learnt how to use mobiles and social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter as communication tools for business, and the basics of e-marketing concepts, online shopping, web payment and cyber crimes.
At the award giving ceremony, Yeafesh Osman, state minister for science and ICT, stressed the need for local small and medium entrepreneurs to become familiar with ICT and utilise it as a tool of business expansion.
“ICT plays an important role in expanding businesses for small and medium enterprises across the world, which also helps combating poverty and unemployment,” said Yeafesh at the Spectra Convention Centre in Dhaka yesterday.
“Our SME entrepreneurs should start using ICT for communicating with more clients and partners, especially in the regional countries where there are demands for our products,” he suggested.
He also suggested the SME Foundation carry out more ICT training in different divisions and major districts to make entrepreneurs tech-savvy and aware of modern communication systems.
Syed Rezwanul Kabir, managing director of the SME Foundation, said the country's majority SME entrepreneurs lack ICT skills.
“These days ICT is considered a basic requirement for expanding operations. So we have designed the training programme to provide some basic knowledge about ICT and modern communication tools,” he said. Rezwanul, however, said the training programme is not full-fledged yet.
"Initially, we have tried to introduce a fundamental course to inspire entrepreneurs. But we have plans to run an advanced programme soon. We are also ready to extend help further by opening and designing websites for them,” he assured.
Aftabul Islam, chairman of SME Foundation, also spoke.