Entrepreneurs seek regular budget allocation for SME sector
Calls include declaring foundation coordinating agency
Entrepreneurs have called for regular budget allocation for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to support development and employment generation.
The demand was raised at the 20th annual general meeting of the SME Foundation held at Parjatan Bhaban in Agargaon today (30 March), according to a press release.
The meeting, chaired by SME Foundation Chairperson and Industries Secretary Md Obaidur Rahman, approved the board report, audited financial statements and auditor's report for FY25, as well as the budget for 2026–27.
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Members of the general body said SME Foundation programmes have played an important role in supporting micro, small and medium enterprises despite various challenges.
They said the foundation should be declared a coordinating agency to achieve government goals and called for dedicated budget allocation each year.
Md Obaidur Rahman said a total of 46,459 entrepreneurs directly received services from the foundation in FY25. Of them, 23,550 were men, 22,839 women and 70 from the third gender.
Deputy Managing Director Md Nazim Hasan Sattar delivered the welcome address at the meeting.
Managing Director Anwar Hossain Chowdhury presented statistics on the programmes implemented in FY25 to members of the board and general body, saying the foundation carried out 656 programmes during the period to support small and medium entrepreneurs.
These included disbursing Tk373 crore in loans at low interest rates among around 3,500 micro, small and medium entrepreneurs, he said.
The foundation also facilitated participation of entrepreneurs in fairs in Sylhet, Bogura, Barishal and Rangpur, as well as international events in Kunming, Shanghai, Istanbul and Manchester, and local fairs including the Dhaka International Trade Fair, Environment Fair and Bijoy Mela 2024, he added.
