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The International Trade Centre (ITC) will support the SME Foundation (SMEF) to implement various programmes to develop skills of the women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh and strengthen their platforms.
To this effect, the international organisation inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the SMEF at a city hotel on Wednesday.
SMEF Managing Director Md. Mafizur Rahman and ITC Director - Division of Sustainable and Inclusive Trade Fiona Shera signed the MoU on behalf of their respective sides, a statement said.
Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun attended the ceremony as the chief guest.
SMEF Chairperson Dr. Md. Masudur Rahman, top official of UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Duncan Overfield, and President of Chittagong Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry Monowara Hakim Ali were present on the occasion as the special guests.
The statement also said the ITC is currently conducting activities for development of women in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America. The organisation would consider Bangladesh a 'hub' for its programme, as part of which a delegation from Bangladesh has recently participated in a ToT event - 'creating digital assets for your business' - in Mauritius.
Through the ITC's programme - conducted in Bangladesh, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Indonesia and Mauritius - 1,200 women entrepreneur-run businesses will be given the opportunity to participate in 84 direct and virtual fairs.
Some 6,649 new workers will be given employment opportunities in 4,600 organisations, led by women-entrepreneurs, through training.
The statement also said apart from this, the SMEF and the ITC will help in formulation of women-friendly business policies, and increasing communication of the women entrepreneurs with buyers and investors at national and international levels.