Over 34,500 entrepreneurs receive services from SME Foundation in FY24

Some 34,720 entrepreneurs directly received various services from the SME Foundation (SMEF) during 2023-24 fiscal year.

Of the small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) served, 17,001 were males and 17,719 were females.

This information was revealed at the 19th annual general meeting of the SMEF held at its headquarters in Agargaon area of the capital, says a statement.

SMEF Chairperson Md Mushfiqur Rahman presided over the meeting while its Managing Director Anwar Hossain Chowdhury and other directors were present

Mr Chowdhury presented some key statistics on the programmes implemented by his office during the last FY 2024 to the members of the Board of Directors and the General Council.

He told the audience that the SMEF, a body under the ministry of industries, implemented 692 programmes for the development of entrepreneurs in the last FY, including 11th National SME Product Fair 2024 and the National SME Entrepreneur Award 2023, Divisional SME Product Fair 2023 in Jashore and Mymensingh, 7th Buyer-Seller Meeting and Product Fair 2023, organizing the 14th International SME Women Expo 2024 in Chittagong with the support of the SME Foundation.

Also, the SMEF activities included establishment of a Common Facility Center (CFC) in Kaluhati Footwear manufacturers Cluster in Rajshahi with the support of SME Foundation, conducting a feasibility study of establishing a CFC in Jashore and Sirajganj SME Clusters, inauguration of one-stop digital platform 'WE-HELP' to support women entrepreneurs, achievement of ISO 22000:2018 by nine organisations with the support of the SME Foundation.

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