SME Foundation has recently agreed to provide Tk 3 crore to Trust Bank to give loans to small and medium entrepreneurs, particularly women, in Jessore and three hill districts at 9 percent interest.

Small women entrepreneurs at the nakshikantha cluster in Jessore will receive the financing without any collateral. Both male and female-led

SMEs in the three hill districts of Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari will receive the discounted financing, officials said.

ABM Khorshed Alam, acting managing director of the foundation, and M Shah Alam Sarwar, managing director of the bank, inked a deal at a programme at the foundation in the city.

Dilip Barua, chairperson of the foundation and the industries minister, attended the programme.

Since 2009, the foundation has distributed Tk 11 crore as collateral-free loans among SMEs across the country through Mutual Trust Bank, Eastern Bank, NCC Bank and Midas Financing.

News: The Daily Star/Bangladesh/02-Dec-12