Infrastructure Development Company Limited, in partnership with SME Foundation, recently organised a focused group discussion titled ‘Unlocking CMSME Potential: Bridging the Gaps.’
The session brought together entrepreneurs, financial institutions, regulators and development partners to deliberate on the challenges and solutions for Bangladesh’s cottage, micro, small and medium enterprises, said a press release.
Welcoming the participants, IDCOL CEO Alamgir Morshed stressed that CMSMEs contributed 25 per cent of GDP and employed more than 34 million people, yet faced a financing gap of over $73 billion (approximately Tk 9 lakh crore), constraining their potential.
‘CMSMEs are the backbone of our economy and crucial for resilience and job creation,’ Morshed remarked, adding, ‘IDCOL has been working for over two decades to promote sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy, and inclusive finance. Building on this track record, we now want to ensure that CMSMEs also benefit from affordable credit, capacity building, and stronger market linkages.’
The consultation was attended by entrepreneurs, banks, NBFIs, MFIs, PKSF, Bangladesh Bank, SME Foundation, the Ministry of Industries, the Microcredit Regulatory Authority, BSCIC and development partners, who shared their perspectives on the way forward.
The session concluded with remarks from SM Monirul Islam, deputy CEO of IDCOL, who thanked participants and sought cooperation from all stakeholders so that IDCOL can contribute meaningfully to the sustainable and inclusive development of the CMSME sector.
