Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Dr Atiur Rahman said SME sector can play a vital role in reducing income discrimination bet-ween urban and rural people as well as establishing a gender-balanced society.

While inaugurating a two-day SME Financing Fair here in the port city on Tuesday the BB governor also emphasised on women empowerment through SME sector to accelerate economic growth and overall development of the country.

In this regard the BB governor said under Refinance Scheme introduced to help flourish SME sector, the Bangladesh Bank has been providing small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) with SME loan at low interest rate (10 percent) and women entrepreneurs are allocated 15 percent of the SME fund of the scheme.

SME Foundation in association with Bangladesh Bank (BB) organised the SME financing fair at Institution of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB), Chittagong premises.

Thirty-two banks and non-banking financial organi-sations are participating at the fair organised to help remove the “financing problem” considered as the main impediment to development and flourishing of SME sector.

The fair is the first of a series of seven such events SME Foundation is organising in all the seven divisional towns in the country this year.

BB Governor Atiur in his speech further informed that following BB order for region based cluster development depending on raw materials available in a locality the banks and non-banking financial organisations are providing SME Loans in Jamalpur, Moulovibazar and Jassor for handicrafts, in Khagrachari and Rangamati for Boutique and in Serajgang for handloom.

SME Foundation Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Sayed Rezwanul Kabir made a welcome address at the inaugural ceremony presided over by SME Foundation Chairperson Aftab-ul-Islam.

Bangladesh Bank, Chitta-gong General Manager Mohammad Naushad Ali Chowdhury, SME and BB Special Program Department Director Sukamol Shingha Chowdhury, BRAC Bank Limited Managing Director Sayed Mahabubur Rahaman and Channel I Managing Director of Channel Shaeikh Seraz attended the inaugural ceremony among others.

Later, loan sanction letters and dummy cheques for Tk 41.9 million of SME loan were handed over to the SME entrepreneurs by the chief guest on behalf of participating banks and financial institutions.

News: daily Sun/ Bangladesh/ Feb-16-2011