SME Foundation, UNESCAP make 7-year plan

State-run SME Foundation and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) of the United Nations have jointly formulated a seven-year strategy paper for the development of women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh. 

The strategy identified 10 areas and suggested government and private organisations to work together to increase support in this aspect.

The areas are institutional and policy support, human resource development, network development, harnessing the potential of women, increasing financing, market linkages, digital and ICT development, developing accurate data and knowledge, enhancing institutional coordination and ensuring accountability.

The information was disclosed at a discussion on the "Women-Entrepreneurship Development Strategy Paper in Bangladesh" at Parjatan Bhaban in the capital's Agargaon yesterday.

According to the Bangladesh government's Economic Census 2013, only 7.2 percent of the over 7.8 million small and medium enterprises are owned by women entrepreneurs, said a keynote paper.

However, the participation of women in labour is more than 36 percent, said the paper presented by Radhika Behuria, expert consultant of ESCAP, and Dr Ananya Raihan, founding executive director of social enterprise D.Net.

If this is increased to 45 percent, the gross domestic product (GDP) growth will be 2 percent higher. That is why the strategy paper has been prepared for the development of women entrepreneurs, they said.

Md Mafizur Rahman, managing director of SME Foundation, presided over the programme.

Zakia Khanam, additional secretary to the industries ministry, and Monowara Hakim Ali, president of the Chattogram Women's Chamber of Commerce and Industry, were present as chief and special guests respectively, said a press release.

Cai Cai, chief of gender, equality and social inclusion sector of the Social Development Division at ESCAP, and Md Nazeem Hasan Sattar, general manager of the foundation, were present.