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Build strong network of women entrepreneurs
FROM PAQGE Bl
Empowerment needs economic opportunity; therefore, women entrepreneurship and strengthening the rights of women should be priority for all governments the world over, she said.
Kenny urged the women entrepreneurs to act as models for budding entrepreneurs to show that society can change.
The Swedish envoy said women empowerment has been on the rise since the 90s, with more women now working outside of their households — and engaging in business activities thanks to various initiatives such as the microcredit programme.
"Now is the time to step up efforts systematically to improve condition of the women entrepreneurs."
Kenny said women entrepreneurs would have to get together and form a network to address common challenges such as access to finance, developing products and finding out markets.
The unity will help reach local and central policymakers so that "yourvoice is heard," she added.
Rokia Afzal Rahman, president of BFWE, urged the women entrepreneurs to be part of the mainstream to alleviate their position.
She urged the successful women entrepreneurs to mentor the young females looking to get into the field of business.
The former adviser to caretaker
government said the entrepreneurs should become IT-sawy to extend their products' reach.
Speaking as the chief guest, Shitangshu Kumar Sur Chowdhury, deputy governor of the Bangladesh Bank, said there would be no sustainable development in the country without the participation of women in the economy, particularly the women entrepreneurs.
"The contribution of women entrepreneurs to the country is undeniable. They manage their families, rear their children and still findtimetoruntheirbusinesses."
He, too, called the women entrepreneurs to build a strong community, not only within Bangladesh but also outside of it to take their products to newmarkets.
Chowdhury admitted that women entrepreneurs are still facing difficulties in getting loans from banks and non-bank financial institutions, although the central bank has taken a number of initiatives in recent times to make funds available for them.
He, however, advised the entrepreneurs to not worry about higher interest rates and put their businesses on hold.
"You should instead try to cut cost of production and market products properly using the latest technology so that you can make profits."
"But there is no scope for complacency," he said, urging the entrepreneurs to make the best
use of the facilities available.
"We are working to convince the banks to lend more to women entrepreneurs at low interest rates."
Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star, said women entrepreneurs are the inevitable part of Bangladesh's future.
The Daily Star has been honouring women entrepreneurs for the last 13 years through the Bangladesh Business Awards in partnership with DHL, he said.
"Women leadership at the top level of a country does not ensure women's empowerment. It has to come from the grassroots."
Hasan M Mazumder, country representative of The Asia Foundation, said Bangladesh has come a long way in the last 40 years in terms of women empowerment and their rights.
“But still there is much to be done for women entrepreneurs. There are budding entrepreneurs who should be given support in every possible way," he added.
Syed A Al-Muti, programme director of economic development for The Asia Foundation, said the government has introduced several schemes for women entrepreneurs but women businessmen in the rural areas are not being able to reap their benefits fully.
Sharnalata Roy, president of BFWE, Sylhet, said access to finance is the main barrier for women entrepreneurs.
Although banks sometimes lent at 10 percent interest rates, it rose to 15 percent during repayment, she said.
"Although banks say they are lending under schemes for small and medium enterprises [that is at 10 percent], the loans end up being at the commercial rates of 15 percent and above. We are at a loss to understand why the banks are doing this."
Roy, who also owns the beauty parlour Women's Fashion World in Sylhet, said the central bank should look into the issue so that women entrepreneurs can avail loans at the low interest rates.
Rosettaa Najneen, president of BFWE Rajshahi, said the grassroots-level entrepreneurs need market access as the entrepreneurs cannot display their products due to a lack of platform.
"We do not need large markets. We just need space in the markets, as many entrepreneurs are sitting idle with their products," she said.
Rebeka Sultana, an entrepreneur from Barisal, said the government should pay more attention to the grassroots entrepreneurs so that their initiatives do not nip in the bud.
Anwara Ferdousi, who came from Rangpur, said if they had had received training they would have progressed a lot.
Syed Ishtiaque Reza, director of the news channel Ekattur TV, moderated the roundtable.