STAR BUSINESS REPORT

Bangladesh is moving to integrate international payment systems such as PayPal to expand global market access for small entrepreneurs and modernise the cottage and small industries sector through stronger digital connectivity, said Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur yesterday.

“We have already removed regulatory barriers. SMEs should be able to receive payments seamlessly through platforms like PayPal,” he said while addressing the Annual Conference and Workshop 2025 at the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) headquarters in Dhaka.

Citing global shifts, he highlighted the importance of linking international payment gateways to help local entrepreneurs reach global markets.

He stressed the urgent need to modernise and support small and cottage industries by strengthening supply chains, encouraging integration with larger firms, and building robust digital and sustainable platforms.

“Here, firms try to do everything on their own,” he said, attributing part of the challenge to tax complications and policy inconsistencies that On