Seminar on ‘Review of Bangladesh Bank Policies on MSE Financing’ held Feb 1

A study report dissemination seminar on 'A Review of Bangladesh Bank Policies on micro, small and medium enterprises (mSME) Financing: Recommendations for improving access to finance for micro and small enterprises (MSE)', hosted by Business Finance for the Poor in Bangladesh (BFP-B) Project designed and funded by UKAid of the UK Government was held at Amari Hotel in the capital on February 1.

The implementing agency of the BFP-B project is Bangladesh Bank and the executing agency is the Bank and Financial Institutions Division (BFID) of the Ministry of Finance and it's managed by Nathan Associates (UK), according to a press release.

The seminar hosted representatives from different government ministries, regulators, apex organisations, banks, non-bank financial institutions, small and medium enterprise (SME) development institutions, microfinance institutions, chambers of commerce, banking and microfinance associations, development partners and international organizations, according to the press release.

The chief guest Fazle Kabir, Governor of Bangladesh Bank (BB), addressed the event.  Md Eunusur Rahman, Secretary, Bank and Financial Institutions Division, Ministry of Finance, gave a speech as the special guest at the event.

The event was chaired by Shitangshu Kumar Sur Chowdhury, Deputy Governor, Bangladesh Bank, and a welcome address was presented by Chris August, Team Leader, Business Finance for the Poor in Bangladesh (BFP-B) Project. Keith Thompson, Team Leader for Growth and Private Sector Development of UKaid, addressed the audience on this occasion.

Sajjad Zohir, Executive Director, Economic Research Group (ERG), the Team Leader of the study, presented the key findings of the report, according to the press release.

An important panel discussion was moderated by Professor Wahiduddin Mahmud, Chairman, ERG, Professor, Department of Economics, Dhaka University and Former Adviser to the Caretaker Government, reports press release.

The other speaker of the event was Mijanur Rahman Joddar, Executive Director, Bangladesh Bank, according to the press release.

The event focused on the need for comprehensive financial inclusion strategy. Such strategy will be instrumental in government policy to alleviate poverty and reduces income inequality, making the path to sustainable development more accessible.

Those who still do not have access to basic financial services will have the opportunity to such access. The benefits of financial inclusion need to be delivered to their doorsteps.