Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) organized a three-day event titled ‘Shuponno Somahar: Environment-friendly Microenterprise Fair 2024’ at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC), which continued until Saturday.
On Thursday, M Khairul Hossain, chairman of PKSF, inaugurated the fair at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center.
Alongside the stalls of 77 project beneficiary entrepreneurs, there were also stalls of 47 collaborating organizations of PKSF involved in project implementation.
Throughout the three-day fair, thousands of visitors visited the stalls daily, purchasing products produced by micro entrepreneurs in environmentally friendly methods.
Approximately Tk1 crore worth of products was sold and ordered during these three days; besides, traditional and folk cultural programs are organized every evening.
On the last day of the fair, secretary of the Financial Institutions Division Sheikh Mohammad Salim Ullah was present as the chief guest of the closing ceremony.
Speaking as the chief guest, he mentioned that "to build a smart Bangladesh by 2041, we have to keep pace with the developed world. There is no opportunity for development, leaving the rural common people behind. Microenterprise development is essential for sustainable poverty alleviation."
President of the closing ceremony, chairman of PKSF M Khairul Hossain said that PKSF is working tirelessly to involve the poor people in the mainstream of production and to sustain their activities.
He pointed out that the government is working as a supporter in the implementation of PKSF, which has been given by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to expand the 'Export Basket'.
He called upon the micro entrepreneurs to be more attentive in producing new exportable products.
Md. Fazlul Quader, additional managing Director of PKSF, mentioned the various activities of the SEP project.
He said that if environmental protection is not given importance in the production of products, in the near future, the plantation of paddy fields will become a major crisis in Bangladesh.
In the closing ceremony, a vote of thanks was given by AKM Zahirul Haque, Project Coordinator, SEP.
The awards are given in four categories to encourage micro-scale enterprises and business expansion under the project. Concrete block-maker Rabiul Islam from Thakurgaon was awarded as the Best Environment-friendly Entrepreneur; handicraft-producer Zuena Ferdous Mitul from Rangpur as the Best Women-friendly Entrepreneur; Jamdani saree-maker Md Rubel Mia from Narayanganj as the Best Employee-friendly Entrepreneur; and flower-grower Sajeda Khatun from Jashore as the Best Woman Entrepreneur.