Credit exposure to small- and medium-enterprises (SMEs) has created about five-lakh fresh jobs in the country, during January 2010 to March 2011.
However, the number of female entrepreneurs and employment for women are much less than men. According to central bank statistics, SME credit disbursement was 137.79 per cent higher than the target of Tk. 38,858 crore, till December 31, 2011. "We've disbursed Tk. 53,543 crore to 73,979 enterprises, till December 31, 2010.
In the first quarter of 2011, around 25,000 applications were granted loans by different banks," Sukamal Sinha Choudhury, general manager of Bangladesh Bank (BB), told The Independent.
Some 8,095 new job opportunities were created by fresh loan disbursements to 1,467 entrepreneurs, in agro industries in Rangpur division's four districts, during the last one year, said Choudhury.
Average employment by each medium industry, engaged in manufacturing, is more than 20, while average rate of employment by a small enterprise does not exceed 5, he pointed out.
He said that a major portion of the total SME loan, goes to small entrepreneurs. Of the total entrepreneurs, only 3,547 are women, while the number of men stands at 70,435, according to Bangladesh Bank data.
President of Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI), Selima Ahmed, said that women entrepreneurs face discrimination from different banks, when it comes to credit disbursement.
"Women entrepreneurs from different regions often complain that they were being harassed by bank officials. It is a major reason for despair," she said. The banks should change attitude towards women entrepreneurs seeking loans, she added.
A women entrepreneur could have loans of up to Tk. 5 lakh, without any mortgage, as per standing orders by the central bank, but many banks do not abide by this directive, she said.
"The process and timing of loan confirmation also need to be convenient for women. Otherwise, the government's goal – to create women entrepreneurship – will not be achieved," she said, adding, "It is closely linked to women's empowerment."
"Credit disbursement and recovery report is very satisfactory, as per BB statistics, and the SME sector is doing well," said Aftab-Ul-Islam, chairman of SME Foundation.
However, he added, the periodic report by the central bank does not conform the complaint of lower women entrepreneurship.
Aftab said that the SME Foundation has been working with different banks, with cooperation from the central bank, to make SME loan disbursements easier.
The SME Foundation is also trying to promote SMEs in rural areas, by campaigns and organising SME fairs in different districts and divisional headquarters, he said.

News: the independent/Bangladesh/ Apr-01-2011