The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

To give impetus to the efforts of a small group of enterprises of leather sub sector the BLSC, a project of ITC-Geneva, will lend Tk 50 lakh among 25 entrepreneurs in the city.

The loan is intended to help the entrepreneurs with financial assistance as well as contribute to poverty reduction through employment generation.

The Mutual Trust Bank Ltd will provide Tk 50 lakh for the project that will be coordinated by the Society for Development Initiative (SDI).

In the loan disbursement programme yesterday, organised by the Business Promotion Council, Commerce Secretary Firoz Ahmed said the programme aimed at poverty reduction as well as new entrepreneurship.

He said, "Economic development and investment is necessary for poverty reduction. To this effect investment should go towards each component of economy."

He emphasised on newer products as well as market diversification to increase export trade of the country.

Prof Dr Atiur Rahman said conventional finance never prefers poor people. "The initiative to provide loan to the entrepreneurs from leather sub sector will never ask for collateral. There is vast opportunity to develop economy of the country through such programmes," he said.

Business Promotion Council Coordinator Ghulam Hussain, BLSC consultant Mohammad Hosen, Mutual Trust Bank Managing Director Kazi Shafiqur Rahman and representative of Abdul Monem Foundation Moinuddin Monem also spoke on the occasion.