Jamalpur: Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman Wednesday urged the women entrepreneurs to take initiatives for building small industries to attain sustainable economic growth.

The call came from an exchange-of-views meeting organized by the National Bank at the Public Library auditorium in the district.

Atiur Rahman said though 50 percent of the population constitutes women, their participation in formal economic sector is lower than men’s.

“Women entrepreneurs have to contribute to our institutional economy through undertaking small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and producing handmade products and marketing those,” he added.

He mentioned that the government has fixed a target to distribute Tk 24,000 crore as loans for developing the small and medium industries.

The head of the central bank said the government is considering SME sector with importance for employment generation, reduction of income discrimination and poverty alleviation.
     
AKM Shafiqur Rahman, Senior Vice-president of the National Bank, Abdur Rahman Sarker, Managing Director of the bank, SM Moniruzzaman, General Manager, Rezanul Karim Reznu, President of Jamalpur chamber, women entrepreneurs Sayeda Akter and Nazma Rashid, among others, addressed the function with Moazzem Hossain, Chairman of the National Bank, in the chair.

A total of Tk 15.5 lakh was handed to 14 handicraft entrepreneurs at the programme.

BDST 0555 Hrs May 26, 2010
Correspondent/RS/MMA/MUA