Adilur for strengthening SME Foundation

Advisor for Industries, Housing and Public Works Adilur Rahman Khan has laid importance on strengthening the SME Foundation structurally to further energise the small and medium enterprise sector and accelerate its development for expanding domestic and international markets for different products.

'Strengthening the SME Foundation structurally into a robust and modern institution is now demand of the time," he said while inaugurating the 12th National SME Product Fair at the Bangladesh-China Friendship conference centre in Agargaon on Sunday.

He said apart from creating a strong domestic market, new markets for SME products are needed to create. He laid emphasis on which products were exploring to see in high demand in which countries.

The advisor also stressed taking effective steps to increase budget, human resources, research capacity, and technological infrastructure in this regard.

Organised by SME Foundation, inaugural function of the largest exhibition having cent per cent local products was also addressed by Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Industries Md. Nuruzzaman NDC and Member of the Board of Directors of the SME Foundation and President of the Women Entrepreneur Association of Bangladesh Nasreen Fatema Awal,. Managing Director and CEO of City Bank Masrur Arefeen as special guests.

SME Foundation Managing Director Anwar Hossain Chowdhury delivered the welcome speech.

City Bank is the main patron of the 12th National SME Product Fair 2025. Other sponsors include BRAC Bank, Eastern Bank, Bank Asia, IDLC Finance, Lanka Bangla Finance, United Finance, and IPDC Finance.

At the inaugural function, six entrepreneurs won the 'National SME Entrepreneur Award 2025':

Juyena Ferdous of Ahlad Fashions received the award from micro entrepreneur and female category while Mohammad Wahiduzzaman of Ribana from male category). Others recipients and categories are Mosammat Sirajum Munira of Sutar Kabbo from small entrepreneur category as female, Aman Ullah of Aman Plastic Toys Industries as male, Kazi Md. Monir Hossain of Aparajeyo from medium entrepreneur category and Md. Mahfuzul Haque of Dubotech Digital from startup category.

Around 350 SMEs are participating in this year's fair. 60 per cent are women entrepreneurs. Readymade garments sector dominates with 74 stalls, followed by handicrafts with 54, footwear and leather products 40, jute products 35, agriculture and food processing products (28), shital pati/Mats, bamboo, cane, Hogla, Areca Nut Leaf products, wood products (15), food products (14), light engineering (13), jewelry (9), cosmetics (7), IT-based services (5), herbal/medicinal products (5), plastic products (5), electrical and electronics (3) and furniture (3).

Eight departments/agencies under the Ministry of Industries, nearly 15 government agencies, around 30 banks and financial institutions, and other organizations also provide services to entrepreneurs in the fair.

smunima@yahoo.com