Md Fazlur Rahman

Bangladesh Bank and SME Foundation will organise a financing fair in Chittagong in February, to bridge the gap between entrepreneurs and lenders.

The two-day fair at the Engineers Institute in the port city is scheduled to be held on February 15-16. The fair is a part of the government's attempts to extend the much-needed financial services to prospective small and medium entrepreneurs across the country.

The aim of the fair is to create awareness among entrepreneurs about small and medium enterprises (SME) financing products that are available in the market.

It will also facilitate financing through a display of loan products and procedures, and required documents for funding.

It will also support SMEs to prepare new, innovative and demand-driven projects; act as a platform for match-making between the SME entrepreneurs and financial institutions; offer spot advice and guidance to potential SMEs; and identify strategies to reduce procedural bottlenecks in delivering loans to the SMEs.

The fair, which will start at 10:30 am and be open until 8pm, will also feature seminars. Besides, banks will have to answer queries made by entrepreneurs, said an official of SME and Special Programmes Department of Bangladesh Bank.

The participating banks and financial institutions will also offer SME loans directly at the fair, he said. Each lender will lend to at least five entrepreneurs.

Fairs will also be organised at all divisional cities and major district towns, such as Bogra, Comilla and Mymensingh.

fazlur.rahman@thedailystar.net

News: The Daily Star / Bangladesh/ jan-29-2011