Banks and NBFIs disbursed Tk2,20,489 crore in loans to the CMSME sector in 2022, representing a 19.9% rise year on year (YOY).
According to Bangladesh Bank's most recent data, the CMSME sector received Tk35,061 crore more in YoY terms, while the disbursement figure for 2021 was Tk1,85,428 crore.
Banks and NBFIs also disbursed Tk33,840 crore in loans to new entrepreneurs in the SME sector in 2022.
The CMSME industry received a total of Tk60,611 crore in the fourth quarter of last year (October-December), compared to Tk57,118.6 crore in the same time in 2021.
Data analysis revealed that Tk55,641 crore in loans were disbursed to SMEs in rural regions during the period, while Tk36,009 crore in loans without collateral were disbursed.
However, in April 2020, Bangladesh Bank proposed a Tk20,000 crore stimulus package to provide low-interest loans to small industrial entrepreneurs hit by the Covid-19 outbreak.
The lending target for CMSMEs was also set at Tk20,000 crore for FY22 in the second phase of stimulus package distribution.
The outstanding debt in the CMSME sector, on the other hand, grew by Tk31,000 crore to Tk2.82 lakh crore from Tk2.52 lakh crore.
Regarding the growth in CMSME loans, officials from the central bank and commercial banks stated that following the shock of the Covid-19 pandemic and the continued inflationary pressure that raises the cost, the cost of doing business has risen as a result and the loan amount has also increased.
Loans to the SME sector were deemed to be less risky when compared to the risks associated with large corporate loans, they noted.
