SME sector needs policy support to create more employment: experts

The country's small and medium enterprises (SMEs) sector needs policy support from the government to create more employment and thus boost its contribution to the economy, said experts at a webinar today.

The webinar titled BBF SME Digital Summit 2020 was held on Zoom this evening, organised by Better Bangladesh Foundation in association with BBF-Global with the aim to focus on promoting SMEs for sustainable economic growth in Bangladesh.

SME Foundation Managing Director Shafiqul Islam said at the programme that enhanced employment would be ensured if SME sector is developed properly.

He underscored the need for adopting strategies based on the development of the SME sector so that more employment could be created, which would play a vital role in revamping the country's economy in the post-pandemic era.

Planning Minister MA Mannan, who was the chief guest at the programme, ensured all-out policy support from the government in this regard.

Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) Chairman Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad was among the special guests.

Brac Bank Limited Managing Director Selim RF Hussain delivered the key-note speech at the programme moderated by Masud A Khan, chairman and CEO of Better Bangladesh Foundation.

BASIS Senior Vice President Farhana A Rahman, SBK Tech Ventures Founder Sonia Bashir Kabir, Ayat Foundation CEO Nusrat Feroz Aman, BBF Global CEO Rafiq Khan, BBF Global MD Sazzad Rashid and Channel-I Programme Manager Raju Alim were among the panel discussants.

Other speakers at the webinar included Mantasha Ahmed, president of the Association of Fashion Designers of Bangladesh; Barrister Niti Sanjana, an advocate of Bangladesh Supreme Court and Sk Md Tarikul Islam, a representative of UK-based Hoda Vasi Chowdhury and Co.

Brac Bank Ltd joined the virtual summit as gold partner, Daraz Group as second gold partner and SME Foundation as strategic partner of the event.

The Daily Star and Channel-I were media partners while BNO Lubricant joined as corporate partner.