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Some 3,106 entrepreneurs have so far received Tk 3.0 billion from the stimulus package from different banks and the financial insinuations through the intervention of the SME Foundation (SMEF).
Of the total, the SMEF has accomplished disbursement of Tk 2.0 billion within the first six months of the current fiscal year (FY) that is much ahead of the schedule, a statement issued by the SMEF said on Sunday.
The funds were made available to the country's cottage, micro, small, and medium enterprises (CMSMEs) at an affordable interest rate to help tackle the Covid-19 fallout.
Since the SMEF is not a lending organisation, it facilitated the process to disburse the money from 19 banks and non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs).
The statement also said the government declared a Tk 15 billion stimulus package in the second phase for the sake of helping the rural and marginal CMSMEs across the country, while the SMEF was entitled to facilitate disbursement of Tk 3.0 billion.
The Finance Division released Tk 1.0 billion in the FY 2020-21 and Tk 2.0 billion in the FY 2021-22 in favour of the SMEF.
Some 74 per cent beneficiaries were males and the rest were females. The entrepreneurs included 1,462 traders and 1,176 manufacturers.
Around 50 per cent of the beneficiaries got Tk 0.5 million each.
The SMEF also said it inked deals with 10 banks and NBFIs in the first phase and 19 such organisations in the second phase to disburse the loans at 4.0 per cent interest.
They prioritized females, new and marginalised including third gender entrepreneurs, and also those who did not get support from other sources.