‘Technologically sound pvt sector must to take economy into next level’
Staff Reporter :
Experts on Saturday said that it is high time to strengthen the private sector technologically in order to move the county’s economy into the next level.
They came up with the remark while speaking at a seminar on “Technology for Smart CMSMEs” organized by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) at its head office in the city.
Speaking at the seminar, DCCI President Sameer Sattar said, “If we can equip our CMSMEs with technological advancement, innovation and know-how today with necessary policy guidelines and reform, this crucial sector will implement the future of smart Bangladesh.”
“It is high time to support the SMEs and make them digitally equipped to grab future opportunities,” he added.
He further said around 9 million SMEs with 24.5 million workforces in diverse sectors from agriculture, manufacturing, trade and services to export-oriented sectors are recognized as the lifeline of the economy of Bangladesh.
In order for technologically enabled smart SME development to accelerate the desired development, the DCCI president suggested subsidies and easy access to finance for the SMEs.
Md Shamsul Arefin, Secretary of the Information and Communication Technology Division, said, “If we can strengthen the private sector technologically, they will move our economy into the next level.”
Md. Abul Kalam Azad, former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister said the private sector is the engine of growth and the CMSMEs play a vital role in this regard.
“Despite having various problems, our resilient SMEs are carrying the economy of the country forward,” he added.
Md Mahbubor Rahman, Chairman of BSCIC informed that it has 85 offices across the country and they have a refinancing scheme of Tk 100 crore and out of it BSCIC gives loan to the SMEs at a rate of 5 per cent interest.
“Since the CMSMEs cannot afford large plots in the BSCIC industrial area that is why, BSCIC in its new policy allows small spaces to be allotted for CMSMEs,” he informed.
Md. Saifur Rahman, Managing Director of the GBL Fintech Ltd, said that in the entrepreneurship development and global innovation index, the position of Bangladesh is 84th and 105th respectively.
It is evitable that both public and private sectors have come forward for the technological advancement of SMEs but it is not adequate, he opined.
Prof Dr B M Mainul Hossain, Director of the Institute of Information Technology of DU and Md Mezbaul Haque, Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank, among others, spoke at the event.
