National SME Fair begins

An eight-day National SME Product Fair began at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka on Sunday.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina virtually inaugurated the fair organised by the Small and Medium Enterprises Foundation.

Arrangements for 300 stalls have been made at this year's fair considering the Covid-19 situation.

State Minister for Industries Kamal Ahmed Mojumder, Secretary Zakia Sultana, and President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry Jashim Uddin also attended the programme.

SME Foundation Chairman Md Masudur Rahman delivered the welcome speech.

Humayra Mostafa Shohani won the best micro women entrepreneur award for her initiative ‘Shohani’s Interior’ this year. Syed Mohammad Shoaib Hasan and Mohammad Nazmul Islam got the best small entrepreneur awards. Mohammad Azizul Haque was recognised as the best medium entrepreneur of the year.

The four best entrepreneurs received crests, certificates and cheques from the state minister.

Sectors like agriculture, food processing, agricultural manufacturing tools, ICT (Information and Technology), software, leather, leather products, light engineering, jute or jute products, plastic, handicrafts, artificial jewelry, toys and agar industry related SME’s are getting prioritised in the fair.

In her speech, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina emphasised producing products with local raw materials that will be beneficial for the country as well as its agriculture and industrialisation.

“This will help create entrepreneurs as well as improve the competitive edge of products,” she said.

Emphasising developing own markets as well as exploring new markets, she said, "When we will find new markets, we have to see that what kind of products are in high demand in that country and (we have) to produce such products."

Regarding the National SME fair, the prime minister said this fair would increase awareness about the products. "It will play a positive role in the creation of domestic and international markets alongside creating many new entrepreneurs in the SME industry. Such developmental activities need to be intensified in the future," she said.

The fair will continue till December 12. The fair is open for all visitors from 10am to 8pm.