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A three-day fair styled “MIDAS Winter SME Fair – 2024” kicked off on Thursday in Dhaka city, hosting youth and women entrepreneurs to promote further employment and women empowerment.
The fair offers a shopping experience with a vast collection of handmade garments, jewelry, cosmetics, jute and agricultural products, winter sweets, and much more.
As many as 70 youth and women entrepreneurs are participating at the fair, held at the MIDAS Centre.
Organisers said the event promises to offer a comprehensive insight into Bangladesh’s burgeoning SME landscape and showcase the potential of the sector.
Muhammad Abdul Mazid, Chairman of Social Development Foundation (SDF), said the fair not only promotes women empowerment but also encourages employment.
Recalling the SDG slogan: ‘Leave No One Behind’, he said this fair is part of it as it creates new employment and development of the country.
Mr Mazid appreciated MIDAS for organising the event and for imparting training to women entrepreneurs.
He also welcomed the rising entrepreneurship facilitated by fashion designer Bibi Russell, noting that women entrepreneurs not only empower themselves but also contribute to others’ employment.
Shaulee Kamal Khan, General Counsel and member of Executive Committee at HSBC Bangladesh, said that being a banker and lawyer, she believed that society cannot go forward without women’s participation.
Such events are inspiring as women have to overcome numerous challenges to become entrepreneurs and participate in platforms like this one, she added.
Fashion Designer Bibi Russell, who attended the event as guest of honour, shared how she overcame challenges to become an iconic fashion designer. She advocated for opening new opportunities to women entrepreneurs.
Appreciating MIDAS for hosting the event, she requested Midas to support more in providing training and credits to facilitate the employment of women in the society.
The programme was chaired by Zahida Ispahani, Chairman of MIDAS.
Ms Zahida Ispahani said that they organise a number of such fairs every year and those fairs see a noticeable improvement in terms of product quality, variety and diversity.
She applauded the entrepreneurs and encouraged women entrepreneurs to continue striving forward.
Among others, M Khairul Bashar, Managing Director of MIDAS, addressed the event.
The Financial Express is media partner of the event.