Women's SME expo begins in Ctg
Women entrepreneurs are playing a great role in the country's economy and their participation in industry-oriented activities should be encouraged on a larger scale, Industries Minister Dilip Barua said yesterday.
The achievement of the middle-income country status for Bangladesh depends a lot on the entrepreneurial participation of females, he said.
Barua spoke as the chief guest at the inauguration of a month-long fair -- Sixth International Women SME Expo 2012 -- at the polo ground in the port city.
He also assured of providing more government assistance to female entrepreneurs like allocating plots in the proposed Mirsarai Industrial Zone, promoting small and medium enterprise (SME) and more industry-oriented training.
He urged the leaders of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) to continue support and assistance to female entrepreneurs. He further asked banks to provide female entrepreneurs with collateral-free and low-interest loans.
AK Azad, FBCCI president, suggested the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) should make export processing easier for female entrepreneurs' products and urged the next would-be FBCCI chief to allow such entrepreneurs to take part in exhibitions at home and abroad for free.
Monowara Hakim Ali, president of Chittagong Women's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CWCCI) and a director of FBCCI, presided over the ceremony.
CWCCI organised the fair with support from the SME Foundation, FBCCI and the EPB. The event of 300 stalls has nearly 100 stalls set up only for female entrepreneurs where new such entrepreneurs will get free stalls.
The fair will remain open for all from 10am to 10pm. Entrance tickets are priced at Tk 15 while children under or equal to 12 years will get 50 percent discount.
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