CHITTAGONG: With a view to making small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) aware about loan facilities offered by banks and financial organisations, a two-day SME financing fair begins today in the port city.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman will inaugurate the fair on the premises of Institution of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB), Chittagong at around 10:00am.

SME Foundation, in association with Bangladesh Bank (BB), is organising the fair. The fair will also be held in six other divisional cities in phases.

Thirty-two banks and non-banking financial organisations will participate in the fair, said the organisers at a press conference held at Bangladesh Bank, Chittagong conference room on Monday.

The main objectives of the fair are to raise awareness about SME loan facilities, create scope for SMEs to discuss loan related issues with bank officials, provide suggestions on SME projects and comparative idea on SME loans offered by banks and non-banking financial organisations, and develop investment-friendly relations among the bankers and SMEs, said SME Foundation Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Syed Rezwanul Kabir.

SME stakeholders will be able to learn about the procedures and ways to get loans and other issues at the fair, he said.

News: Daily Sun /Bangladesh/15 Feb 2011