Product marketing facilities for the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) entrepreneurs of the country need to be enhanced properly, said Industry Minister Nurul Majid Mohammad Humayun.
He also said that a number of Bangladeshi SME enterprises produce quality products, but are not able to promote their products properly.
“As a result, they are not able to achieve the desired profit despite producing quality products,” he added.
The Industries Minister was speaking as the chief guest at the opening ceremony of the 10th National SME Product Fair at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in the capital on Thursday.
He also said that setting up a permanent display centre is very important for SME entrepreneurs to showcase their products.
He also said that the foundation organizes National SME Product Fairs to promote SME products widely and to establish linkages between producers, buyers and sellers.
“The fair has already created a huge response and enthusiasm among the entrepreneurs from the different regions of the country,” he added.
He also said that the National SME Fair will be transformed into an international fair in future as per the intention of the prime minister.
“I think the SME Fair is the highest reflection of the state's patronage in the development of the SME sector. The Ministry of Industries is working with the goal of achieving economic prosperity and qualitative change in the industrial sector through the implementation of Vision 2041,” he added.
The SME sector contributes 25% to GDP and 80% to total industrial employment, he added.
According to the SME Foundation, in the 10-day “10th National SME Product Fair-2022,” 325 SME entrepreneurs from 12 sectors will take part and there will be 351 stalls.
Earlier, they used to organize it for seven or eight days. However, on the request of the entrepreneurs and to cover four holidays during the fair time, they tailed it to 10 days this year, from November 24 to December 3.
Along with stalls, there is also a secretariat of SME Foundation, media centre, blood donation centre, meeting booth and stalls of various organizations like BITAC, BSTI, BSCIC, BCIC, BSEC, JDPC and BCSIR to present themselves in front of the visitors.
In this year's SME Fair, the foundation awarded the “National SME Entrepreneur Award 2022” to six entrepreneurs in five categories.
Dr Md Mafizur Rahman, managing director of SME Foundation handed over the crests, certificates, and cheques to Safe Trading Corporation owner Mustafa Kamal, Ishrat Jahan Chowdhury of Tulika, Mahfuzul Gani of Gani Creation, Obaidul Haque Russel of Emmas Footwear, Taslima Khatun of Tanin Sports and Dairy, and Nazrul Islam of Raja Metal.
Entrepreneurs expressed their hope that they will get a big opportunity to showcase their products to visitors.
Hossain Sabbri, founder of Bizex Corporation said that they have high hopes for the fair and it is an opportunity to overcome the losses due to the pandemic.
Shoily Sharmin, owner of Shoily's Creation also said that they are hopeful that a number of visitors will visit the fair.
Among the participants, 60% are women entrepreneurs in the 10-day-long fair.
State Minister for Industries Kamal Ahmed Majumder, Industries Secretary Zakia Sultana and Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industries (FBCCI) President Jashim Uddin were also present at the event.
SME Foundation Board of Directors Member Enayet Hossain Chowdhury gave the welcome speech while SME Foundation Chairperson Dr Md Masudur Rahman presided over the event.
