The "8th National SME Product Fair 2020" has kicked-off in the capital with a view to promote SME products and bring local small and medium entrepreneurs under one roof.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the nine-day fair at an event held at Dhaka's Krishibid Institution Bangladesh this morning.

Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun presided over the event while Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Industries Ministry Amir Hossain Amu was present as the special guest.

The prime minister handed over the "National SME Entrepreneurs Award-2020" to two female and three male entrepreneurs. Each winner received Tk100,000, a trophy, and a certificate.

The fair at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre will remain open to visitors from 10:00am to 8:00pm. No entry fee is required.

A total of 296 SME entrepreneurs, including 195 women, will display their products, including jute, agriculture and leather goods, electronics and electrical items, light engineering products, handicrafts and plastic and synthetic items in the fair, Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun had said at a press briefing on Monday.

No foreign products would be allowed in the fair, he had added.

Five seminars on SME entrepreneurs and products will be held during the fair, which has been arranged by the SME Foundation.

Titles of the seminars are "Light Engineering Product Year 2020," "Participation of SME Women Entrepreneurs in Export: Challenges and Potentialities," "Role of SMEs in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Bangladesh," "Expansion of SME Product Marketing through Using Online Platform," and "Digital Finance for SMEs".

Industries Secretary Md Abdul Halim and SME Foundation Chairperson KM Habibullah spoke at the inauguration ceremony in presence of State Minister for Industries Kamal Ahmed Mojumder.

Cabinet ministers, PM's advisers, members of the parliament, foreign diplomats, business leaders, high rank civil and military officials were also present at the event.