The Small and Medium Enterprise Foundation and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation have planned to collaborate on fostering environmentally friendly initiatives, promoting circular industries, and supporting circular economy-based startups and micro, small and medium enterprises in Bangladesh.聽
An agreement in this connection was signed on Wednesday at an event titled聽鈥業ntegrated Approach towards Sustainable Plastics Use and Marine Litter Prevention in Bangladesh鈥櫬爋rganised to stimulate innovation in the plastic value chain and promote eco-friendly initiatives.
According to a press release, as part of the聽鈥楥leantech Acceleration and Commercialisation Programme鈥�,聽the SME Foundation would conduct a series of programmes over six months, including awareness campaigns, calls for applications, participant selection, skill development through training and mentorship, prototype development, investor engagement, and culminating in an exhibition and awards ceremony.
The programmes would directly align with Bangladesh鈥檚 green industrialisation goals and contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure) and 12 (responsible consumption and production).聽
Moreover, the initiative would also place significant emphasis on gender equality and the inclusion of youth.
Musfiqur Rahman, chairman of the SME Foundation, presided over the event.
Anwar Hossain Chowdhury, managing director of the SME Foundation, and Alessandra Bravin, procurement officer at UNIDO鈥簊 headquarters, signed the partnership agreement.
Zaki Uz Zaman, the country representative of UNIDO in Bangladesh, along with officials from the SME Foundation and UNIDO, was also present at the event.聽
According to the SME Foundation, the SME entrepreneurs contribute around 30 per cent to Bangladesh鈥檚 economy.
The preliminary report of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics鈥� Economic Survey 2024 stated that the country is home to nearly 11.8 million cottage, micro, small, and medium enterprises, which accounted for more than 99 per cent of all industrial establishments.
Moreover, the sector also accounted for approximately 85 per cent of total industrial employment, with over 30 million people employed聽in it.
The SME Foundation also said that as a nation with a large population and limited resources, Bangladesh鈥檚 socioeconomic development and employment creation are heavily reliant on the SME sector.
The foundation is working in line with the National Industrial Policy 2022, SME Policy 2019, and the SDG 2030 agenda to advance the sector.
The press release also stated that nearly 2 million SME entrepreneurs have benefited from the SME Foundation since its inception in 2006, under the Ministry of Industry, with 60 per cent of them being聽women entrepreneurs.
