The Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) is expected to initiate a large-scale 'push' to establish support programmes for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Islamic countries, a study paper said here Friday.

The paper on "The Context and Legacy of Industrial Development in Bangladesh" was placed at a three-day seminar on "Meeting of the OIC Task Force on SMEs and Related Seminar" held here recently.

It was jointly organised by Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) with participation of experts from home and abroad.

According to the paper, all OIC

countries as part of their development strategies have been intensifying their efforts for increasing industrial base and volume of foreign trade since small enterprises are envisaged to play a significant role in this regard.

However, SMEs in some of the OIC countries are quite strong such as Malaysia and Bangladesh, while these are very weak or hardly in operation in some other countries like Saudi Arabia. In view of the enormous growth potential of SMEs, the OIC has set up a task force led by MA Rouf Chowdhury, a Director of FBCCI.

Its main objective is to strengthen the SMEs where they exist and also to establish them where they are still not existing. The study dealt briefly about the OIC's initiative to measure the strength and weakness of SMEs in the Islamic countries. In the southeast region, it said, Bangladesh has

been selected for the purpose.

Despite the last three decades' substantial efforts both at public and private levels, the paper said, the growth of SMEs in Bangladesh has appeared to be very slow and unsatisfactory. However, the OIC Task Force will work to ensure smooth growth of SMEs and industrial development in Bangladesh.

As the prospect of SMEs in Bangladesh is bright despite many problems, the paper has put forward various suggestions for the sector's smooth and rapid growth. They include political stability, financial assistance on low interest rates, technological help, development facilities, government subsidy with a clear policy, availability of raw materials, skilled manpower and solid export base.