Six Micro Entrepreneurs and two Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) were awarded the 9th Citi Micro Entrepreneurship Awards in recognition of their leadership, entrepreneurial skills and best practices of the individual entrepreneurs in the country.
Being the chief guest, state minister for finance and planning M Abdul Mannan handed over the awards among the winners on Saturday at a ceremony held at a hotel in the capital.
Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman distributed the prize money among the winners while Rashed Maqsood, country officer of Citibank NA Bangladesh, handed the certificates.
Terming the proposed budget an implementable one, the state minister: We are getting very positive response from all the sectors although a handful of people are still criticising the proposed budget,”
The proposed budget kept enough opportunities for the micro entrepreneurships as most of the people in the country still live in the rural areas and it is not possible for them to set-up big enterprises there, the minister added.
He also urged the banks and financial institutions to come forward for helping out Micro Entrepreneurships in the rural areas.
“It is very important having self-esteem to start a microenterprise against all odds. We have to work to remove the barriers that stand in the way of micro-enterprises from thriving,” said Atiur Rahman.
Some 170 microcredit organisations have so far lent Tk15,000 crore only in the year 2013 to help the micro-borrowers to be graduated to micro enterprises. Of the loans, over Tk9,000 crore are outstanding. Under this initiative, about 2.2m micro-borrowers have graduated to micro entrepreneurs from micro-borrowers, he added.
Richard Tesvich, managing director and regional head of corporate affairs of Citi for Asia Pacific region, said: Citi takes great pride in having been able to successfully continue the award.
“The contribution of microcredit in developing as well as developed economies is widely accepted today. Bangladesh being the birthplace of micro-finance has always been at the forefront to bringing innovation in this sector,” he added.
Samsad Akter, who hailed from Baliadangi in Thakurgaon became Best Micro entrepreneur of the Year, received Tk4,50,000 as prize money while runner up of the same category Samirunnahar Begum was awarded Tk100,000. She hailed from Shaymnagar of Satkhira.
Under the Best Woman Micro Entrepreneur of the Year, Roksana Begum from Valuka of Mymesingh received Tk3,50,000 while Zahira Begum from Mela Kochukata of Nilphamari became the runner-up in the same category, and got Tk100,000 as prize money.
Md Somed Fakir from Taltoli of Borguna was honoured as the Best Micro Entrepreneur of the Year in Agriculture while Anju Sarker from Keshobpur in Jessore received the award as the runner-up in the same category. They respectively received Tk3,50,000 and Tk1,00,000.
Manabik Shahajya Sangstha won the award in the Best Microfinance Institution of the Year category and received Tk3,00,000 as prize money. Sajida Foundation won the award as the Most Innovative Microfinance Institution of the Year and received Tk4,00,000.
Citi Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Citigroup, has launched the Citi Micro Entrepreneurship Awards to promote micro enterprises and increase awareness of the financial service needs of micro entrepreneurs in the country. The award is being supported by Citi Foundation and implemented by Citibank NA and Credit Development Forum.
