Visa champions MSME growth in Bangladesh

Visa, the global leader in digital payments, hosted an exclusive event at the Sheraton Dhaka, focused on empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through innovative payment solutions.

The event brought together leading issuers, financial institutions, and key industry stakeholders to promote the launch of commercial debit and credit cards, aimed at encouraging MSMEs and accelerating financial inclusion in Bangladesh. During the event, Visa representatives showcased the benefits of offering commercial cards to business entities and presented their money movement solutions that extend beyond traditional card rails, providing MSMEs with more flexible and efficient payment options.

Sabbir Ahmed, Country Manager - Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, Visa said, "The immense participation and positive engagement at this event demonstrate the growing importance of MSMEs in Bangladesh's economic landscape. By providing MSMEs with access to innovative commercial payment solutions and fostering collaboration across the financial ecosystem, we are taking a significant step toward inclusive economic growth. Visa remains committed to empowering MSMEs with the tools and knowledge they need to thrive in today's digital economy."

The event featured an insightful fireside chat with Mr. Angshuman Chatterjee, EVP and Product Head Commercial Cards, Debit and Prepaid, HDFC Bank, India. Drawing on his 24 years of experience at HDFC Bank, Mr. Chatterjee shared his journey, best practices, and valuable insights on driving adoption and usage of commercial cards, offering perspectives highly relevant to the Bangladeshi market. The event also included a dynamic panel discussion titled 'The Future of MSMEs in Bangladesh', where prominent representatives participated, including Syed Abdul Momen Tomal - Additional Managing Director & Head of SME, BRAC Bank PLC; Salekeen Ibrahim - Head of SME & Personal Loan, EBL; Nawshad Mustafa - Director, SME & Special Programmes Department, Bangladesh Bank; and Farzana Khan - Deputy Managing Director (Women Entrepreneurship Development, Cluster Development, Information and Communication Technology, Technology Development), SME Foundation. The panellists emphasised the critical role that financial products and digital payments play in supporting MSME growth and resilience.

The Chief Guest delivered the closing remarks, Mr. Arief Hossain Khan, Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank, who outlined the regulator's ongoing initiatives and plans to support the scaling of MSMEs, reaffirming Bangladesh Bank's commitment to fostering a vibrant ecosystem for small businesses. The event marked a significant milestone in advancing financial inclusion for MSMEs in Bangladesh, reinforcing Visa's role as a key partner in enabling sustainable growth and resilience for small businesses nationwide.