The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Ziaul Hasan Siddiqui has said there is no alternative to SME for employment generation in the country as it is a labour-intensive industry. "It's not highly technology-oriented and capital intensive business. So, entry into and exit from the SME business is easier," he said while inaugurating a two-day workshop titled 'SME Development & Credit' that began at BRAC Centre Inn here today. Education Excellence, a new generation consulting, education and communication firm, organised the workshop.

Senior bankers and experts on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) made presentations on the concept of SMEs, growth of SME credit sanction and disbursement, prospect and potentials of SMEs in Bangladesh.

A total of 31 officials from different banks and institutions attended the workshop.

The workshop was also attended by Vice Chancellor of Northern University Prof Dr M Shamsul Haque and CEO of Education Excellence Samira Farhat Amin chaired the inaugural function. In his speech, the Deputy Governor said in Bangladesh SMEs constitute 80 percent of business contributing 25 percent to the GDP, while in Pakistan 60 of business entities are SMEs with a GDP contribution of 15 percent and in China 99 percent of business units belong to SMEs with a GDP contribution of over 60 percent.

He said, "Establishment of BASIC Bank bears the testimony to government's commitment to the SME sector."

He hoped that holding workshop like this would help managers understand the industry more deeply allowing greater contributions to the sector.

Key features of the training were attractive and informative presentations, trainers-participants interactions, action learning, group discussions, and question answer sessions. Bankers from public and private sectors and SMEs, emerging industrialists, and new generation business leaders took part in the workshop.