Press Release

Virtual Workshop on Export Trade Procedures for Women-Owned Entrepreneurs

Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD) and International Finance Corporation (IFC), World Bank Group under BICF II funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), organised a virtual workshop on Step by Step Export Trade Procedures and Online applications of getting better services for Dinajpur Women Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DWCCI). The key objective of the virtual workshop was to aware the women entrepreneurs on how to enter into the export trade. High officials from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Custom House, Dhaka East, and private sector officials of the trade-related agencies participated in the workshop, which was organised on 22 August 2021.

Ms Ferdaus Ara Begum, CEO, Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD), welcomed all the participants. She thanked DWCCI for their eagerness to respond first to have programs to raise awareness of their members on the trade procedures. She said that the country’s economy, amounting to 350 billion USD, is highly dependent on export. It is necessary to increase export revenue to create more employment. Bangladesh is maintaining its export target comparing to other countries amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Trade-related procedures are embracing online platforms day by day in the country. The women entrepreneurs must be aware of the trade-related procedures where increasingly IT solutions are introduced to make it instant and simple. Dinajpur has a high concentration on exportable agricultural products, poultry, handicrafts, fashion wear etc. and WoB are coming up in several new ventures, which is a good sign.

Kanis Fatama, Senior Research Associate and Shahriar Rawshon, Research Associate, BUILD jointly presented the keynote titled Women-Owned Entrepreneurs (WOE) on Export Trade. In reference to IFC (2016) data, the women-owned businesses (WOB) constitute six lac out of the 8 million businesses in Bangladesh. It is hoped that the full functioning of the Economic Zone at Dinajpur will make a vibrant contribution to the local economy. The presentation covered detailed step by step export procedures, time and costs engaged in getting permission, certificate, approvals etc. in areas of trade license, membership from the local chamber, online licensing module, export registration certificate, export permit, bank account opening, TIN certificate, VAT registration, customs procedure as well as incentives announced by the government to encourage export.

Exporters are awarded Cash Incentives, Bonded Warehouse Facility and Duty Exemption & Duty drawbacks upon their export earnings to ensure their export competitiveness in the export market. In the end, detailed case studies on (1) export of fresh vegetables from Bangladesh to the Middle East and (2) export of jute goods from Bangladesh to the EU were presented to provide an accurate and practical scenario of the export procedure from Bangladesh.

In the open session, moderated by CEO, BUILD, a number of WOB participated; Ms Shadia Khanom, Member, DWCCI, said that she is doing online business in the handicrafts sector. She hoped to expand her business depending on customers’ demand; she has her Facebook ID and posts her goods on her page to attract customers.

Enclosed is the press release (in English) for your kind consideration. Please feel free to contact us for any queries.

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Condolence Message From BUILD Chairperson for the Passing Away of Alhaj Anwar Hossain, Founder Chairman of Anwar Group of Industries

Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD) is deeply saddened by the passing away of Alhaj Anwar Hossain, (Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilayhi Raji’un), Founder Chairman of Anwar Group of Industries, Former Member of Parliament (MP), a renowned industrialist and business icon of the country. He was a great gift to the Bangladesh private sector and a role model for all of us. The country will undoubtedly remember him as a great innovator and rare entrepreneur who made remarkable contributions to the country’s economy.

Chairperson, Trustee Board Members, Management and Staff of BUILD deeply mourn and express deep shock and sorrow to the family of Mr Hossain. His sincere contribution to the nation will always be remembered with great admiration and gratitude.

We recall with respect his contribution to trade and commerce, employment generation, industrialization, entrepreneurship and social development will always be remembered and cherished. He was instrumental in the development of business, trade and economy of the country. His dedication and commitment to the development of the private sector were truly inspirational and unique. May his institutional legacy last forever.

We convey our sincere condolences to the family members. We pray to Almighty Allah to grant him peace and give strength to the family to overcome this irreparable loss. Ameen.

Enclosed are the press releases (in English and Bangla) for your kind consideration. Please feel free to contact us for any queries.

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BUILD Webinar on Streamlining Company Registration Process in Bangladesh

The government of Bangladesh is committed to implementing high-impact regulatory reforms such as streamlining the existing company registration process and reduce administrative costs in the procedures, said Mr Tipu Munshi, MP, Hon’ble Minister of Commerce. He presided over a webinar on “Streamlining Company Registration Process in Bangladesh” as Chief Guest on Sunday. The meeting was organised by Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD) in collaboration with The Feed the Future Bangladesh, supported by USAID.

The Commerce Minister cited the examples of Singapore and Malaysia that have shown remarkable success in simplifying the company registration process, reducing the time to register a company to less than one hour. Bangladesh’s Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC) has undergone several reforms and digitalised the registration process. However, still, there is room for improvement for which collaboration of both the public and private sectors is required.

Mr Abul Kasem Khan, Chairperson, BUILD, commenced the program by thanking the Commerce Minister for taking the lead in modernising the company act. RJSC has digitised the registration process along with other services. He mentioned that BUILD is presenting a survey conducted jointly with The Feed the Future Bangladesh containing recommendations to reduce the time and costs in the company registration process.

Enclosed are the press releases (in English and Bangla) for your kind consideration. Please feel free to contact us for any queries.

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Policy for Reducing the Loan Interest for Women Entrepreneurs Is Encouraging but Conditionalities Need Further Simplification

SME & Special Programmes, Department of Bangladesh Bank (BB) has issued a circular on 3 August 2021 (SMESPD Circular Letter No. 09/2021), which instructed the refinancing interest/profit rate to be fixed at 0.5% (zero point five per cent) at bank/financial institution level and maximum 5% (five per cent) at the customer level, previously which was 3% and 7% respectively as per SMESPD Circular Letter No 02/2020.

As per the instructions of paragraph 3 of SMESPD Circular No. 2/2019, net loan of CMSME sector at the end of 2024 and a minimum distribution target of 15% (fifteen per cent) of the advance status is set for women entrepreneurs(WE) for refinancing facility on priority basis under the “Small Enterprise Refinancing Scheme”.

Through its SME Development Working Committee, BUILD recommended that Bangladesh Bank take the initiative to ensure a separate refinancing scheme for WE to enable them to avail more credit facilities and a dedicated desk for WE in Banks and NBFls to get prompt services.

The circular would definitely support WE, those who are multiple loan consumers; for them, other than interest rates, timely loans and simple conditionalities are much more important. It is seen that Banks are required about 24 types of documents in the form of company documents, personal documents and business guarantor documents which becomes very difficult for submitting for small business entrepreneurs.

Simplification in this respect is also significant. Rural women entrepreneurs are precarious, suffering from the fund and cannot afford collateral; even though BB has announced several other alternatives such as educational certificates, chamber/association certificates, but Banks and FI are primarily dependent on Collateral-based loans. Nowadays, in rural areas, many returnee migrants at the local level who have just lost their jobs, suffering a severe financial crisis, need collateral-free finance even if the amount is minimal for their sustenance.

As the CMSME package has already been announced at 4% from the client, so this announcement for 5% might encourage women entrepreneurs. Still, for their benefit, loan conditionalities and time-bound loan support would be much more beneficial.

Enclosed is the press release (in English) for your kind consideration. Please feel free to contact us for any queries.

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BUILD’s Comments on Monetary Policy Statement

For the first time, the yearly Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) has been announced electronically for FY 2021-22, an expansionary and accommodative policy with some specific steps to mitigate the damage done in the economy by the COVID-19. Considering the COVID situation and lack of assertiveness of investment businesses, MPS targeted private sector credit growth at 11% and 14.8% for the first and second half of FY 2022, while the public sector credit growth target is 30.6% and 32.6%, respectively. Due to COVID, there has already been a significant negative impact on employment. Lower interest in credit growth in the private sector could further impact the country’s employment situation.

A significant share of the micro, cottage and small entrepreneurs are informal businesses that are suffering because of the small amount of monetary support. Bangladesh Bank’s policies to support these segments need to be more comprehensive.

The country needs to promote investment and ensure maximum utilization of the existing SPs as well as the Credit Guarantee Schemes for the immediate rescue of CMSMEs. The government may announce a specific 2nd round of SPs with an allowance for new employment as well as retention of employment for encouraging investors. While there is a huge amount of liquidity in the Banks, there could be a good use of this liquidity in the areas so that the velocity of money increases.

The trade balance shows an adverse trend as it has been widened around USD 3.2bn than the previous fiscal year. This is alarming as, over the last five months, imports remained stuck due to market shock. It should concentrate on policy support to service export which may help to keep the trade balance favourable.

Enclosed are the press releases (in English and Bangla) for your kind consideration. Please feel free to contact us for any queries.

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2nd 4IR and ICT Working Committee Meeting of BUILD Held

4IR & ICT is a reality now. Bangladesh needs to prepare for this. The strategy prepared by the government in this respect may be strengthened further by the inputs from the private sector. BUILD prepared a concept note to identify some gaps in comparison with similarly placed countries and identified some areas on which Bangladesh needs to emphasise. In this respect, a presentation was made to gather some more ideas in the 2nd meeting of 4IR and the ICT working committee of BUILD. Concerned government and private sector representatives were present. The meeting was co-chaired by Mr Bikarna Kumar Ghosh, Managing Director, Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (HTPA), and Mr Syed Almas Kabir, President, Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS). Mr A K Khan, Chairperson, BUILD, Dr Mohammad Alamgir, Member, UGC, among others, were present.

Mr Bikarna Kumar Ghosh, Managing Director, Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority, thanked BUILD for organising the 2nd meeting of the 4IR&ICT Working Committee as well as for presenting an informative keynote presentation. He focused on the harmonised collaboration between the relevant stakeholders of the public and private sector to ensure sustainable growth of the 4IR&ICT industry in Bangladesh. He assured that while the government has taken a number of initiatives and implemented policy measures in that respect, the door is always open for the private sector to come up with innovative and justified recommendations. He added that all the inputs, recommendations, and expert opinions gathered from this session will be well taken and addressed in the further report by BUILD.

Mr Syed Almas Kabir, President, BASIS, shared his observation on data privacy guidelines, stressing the urgency of its implementation. Proper data privacy is required to enhance Big Data expansion. IOT issue needs to be addressed as a priority agenda under the Digital Security Policy. Expansion of 5G internet is a critical need for eventually developing the IoT and 4IR technologies. Up-skilling and re-skilling of workers is essential to ensure that there is minimum disruption in the labour market as automation through industrial robotics technology is coming fast. It is high time to collaborate with the international robotics industry to the domestic industry.

Enclosed is the press release (in English) for your kind consideration. Please feel free to contact us for any queries.

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BUILD Webinar on COVID Stimulus and Links to Employment, Consumption, and Investment: The Bangladesh Experience, Global Lessons, and Priorities for Next Round Support

Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD) conducted a study on COVID Stimulus and Links to Employment, Consumption, and Investment: The Bangladesh Experience, Global Lessons, and Priorities for Next Round Support that aims to assess the effect on Bangladesh economy in the immediate aftermath of COVID-19 understand the stimulus and its key features, understanding the economic recovery post-covid stimulus, focusing on consumer demand, employment and private investments, comparative analysis of measures taken in select countries, derive key-takeaways and key recommendations for a quick and inclusive turnaround of the economy.

BUILD conducted a rapid survey (Feb 2021), which was a part of the study, and found that the sales of SME firms have been negatively impacted due to the pandemic. In addition, several firms reported a depressed demand compared to the pre-COVID scenario, indicating that consumption and demand have not recovered fully.

These major findings were revealed at the webinar titled COVID Stimulus and Links to Employment, Consumption, and Investment: The Bangladesh Experience, Global Lessons, and Priorities for Next Round Support on Thursday, 24 June 2021. The event was organized virtually by BUILD as part of supporting the government for redesigning a second-round stimulus package for inclusive economic recovery.

Having joined the webinar as the Chief Guest, M. A. Mannan, Minister for Planning, said that the country’s economy has been growing gradually because of millions of small investment drops. Referring to the recent UNCTAD report of 2021, he said the government is always welcoming greenfield FDI in Bangladesh considering the quality of investment. Responding to the points raised by the discussants, he said the National Budget for FY 2021-22 has focused on the continued economic recovery amid the pandemic. The government will consider the demand of the bottom line of the society if a second stimulus package is formulated where importance will be given to activate more SME supportive organization. Best practices from different developed countries should be considered to make the overall economic ecosystem of Bangladesh vibrant. He also appreciated the role of the central bank’s role in disbursing the stimulus package of the CMSME.

During the welcome note, Abul Kasem Khan, Chairperson, BUILD, said that the initiative and leadership of our Honorable Prime Minister to combat the COVID-19 gave confidence to the economy. However, unemployment, demand generation, and savings need to be addressed to make the initiative more fruitful.

Enclosed are the press releases (in English and Bangla) for your kind consideration. Please feel free to contact us for any queries.

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BUILD’s Call On With FBCCI President

Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD) Chairperson Abul Kasem Khan paid a courtesy call on the newly elected President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Md. Jashim Uddin, on 31 May 2021 at the FBCCI Secretariat.

BUILD Chairperson said that under the dynamic leadership of the new FBCCI President leadership, further development of business and industry in the country would be realised. BUILD Chairperson said that FBCCI President’s guidance during the pandemic would be essential for our business community. Referring to the MOU signed between FBCCI and BUILD in 2015, BUILD Chairperson requested support from FBCCI for collaboration.

FBCCI President Md. Jashim Uddin said FBCCI would accelerate private sector growth and give the highest priority in resolving the many challenges faced by businesses. He stressed the need to strengthen research and innovation as these would help reach the 2041 economic vision for the country.

BUILD CEO Ferdaus Ara Begum also welcomes the new President as the Co-chair of the Taxation Working Committee of BUILD and requests his support and guidance.

Enclosed are the press releases (in English and Bangla) for your kind consideration. Please feel free to contact us for any queries.

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BUILD’s Virtual Dialogue Identifying the Challenges and Measuring Gaps of Present Standardization Capability in Bangladesh for Export Potential Products

The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) is keen to align its efforts with international standards for which it is already working with academia to have research-based product standardisation and upgrading its capacity by setting up new laboratories to ensure proper testing and standards certification for a variety of sectors, said Dr Md. Nazrul Anwar, Director General of BSTI. On Tuesday, 25 May 2021, he was speaking at a Virtual Dialogue on Identifying the Challenges and Measuring Gaps of Present Standardisation Capability in Bangladesh for Export Potential Products.

Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD), in collaboration with IFC-WBG, organised the webinar.

He also said that BSTI has taken two projects on setting up 90 laboratories for product standardisation and certificate issuing and establish its logistics infrastructure in 10 more districts.

However, it takes six months to complete the adaptation of international standards; it takes more than three years to set a product standard. Thus, global product standards adaptation is more time saving than setting up new product standards. BSTI welcomes the recommendations and suggestions from the private sector. Close coordination among the stakeholders will help the government to reach the export target, export market expansion and export diversification, said he.

While moderating the dialogue, Ferdaus Ara Begum, CEO, BUILD in the beginning delineated the objectives of the dialogue informed that in order to become a successful and competitive exporter in the current global market, they must be ensured that their products fulfil the strict requirements of quality demanded by the foreign markets. In this respect, up-to-date information on technical regulations specified in standards or technical regulations set by WTO as demanded by the foreign markets is critical.

Enclosed are the press releases (in English and Bangla) for your kind consideration. Please feel free to contact us for any queries.

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Financial Support to Cottage, Micro, and Small Enterprises to Be Expanded Further

The Bangladesh Bank has taken the initiative to extend the timeline of the current stimulus package, and by 2023, a total of BDT 60,000 crore will be extended to SMEs to ensure economic resilience that will enhance GDP, employment, and inclusive development, said Abu Farah Md Naser, Deputy Governor of Bangladesh at the Virtual Dialogue titled “Creating Resilient Recovery for Businesses through Enhancing Investment Opportunities: A Case of Southwest Bangladesh. The Deputy Governor of the Bangladesh Bank joined the meeting as Chief Guest while Sk Abdur Rahman, Mayor of the Mongla Municipality of the Bagerhat District, joined as the Special Guest. Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD), with support from the PROKAS program of the British Council, organised the dialogue.

The Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor mentioned that the BDT 2,000 crore collateral-free loan opportunity for SMEs made available under the credit guarantee scheme should be utilised as much as possible. He held the example of City Bank’s Leno financing model that uses digital technology to process loan applications in the shortest possible time and encouraged other banks to follow the example. For banks operating at the grassroots level, he encouraged digital technology to ensure that loan evaluation and processing can be managed in the shortest possible time. Abu Farah Md Naser thanked BUILD for organising the meeting to address the concerns of the cottage, micro, and small enterprises from remote regions. He mentioned that Bangladesh Bank is also facilitating the expansion of aggregate demand by nurturing Bank-MFI linkages that have a base of three crore people across the country.

Sk Abdur Rahman, Mayor of the Mongla Municipality, mentioned that the neediest section of the population: the cottage enterprises, fishermen and the working class have primarily missed the benefits of the package. He suggested that banks should provide not only credit but also technical support to ensure that the credit is properly utilised for repayment. Training and capacity building provided by the government at the local level need to be scaled up. He encouraged the speedy completion of the Mongla airport to ensure accelerated investment and development in the region.

In the opening remarks of the meeting, BUILD Chairperson Abul Kasem Khan noted that the COVID-19 had affected business all around the country, especially the MSMEs. The timely initiatives by the Hon’ble Prime Minister and the government to prepare the country to tackle the health challenges as well as economic effects of the pandemic combined with the all-out action by the Bangladesh Bank and other government agencies were instrumental in protecting the country from the worst consequences. Aside from supply-side interventions, there also need to be demand-side initiatives so that the income and consumption of the ordinary people can be boosted to reinject dynamism in the economy. He requested for social safety bond for the small entrepreneurs and some tax changes in the Tax policy, and extend tax incentives so that large scale industries can also be sustained.

BUILD CEO Ferdaus Ara Begum, while moderating the session informed in reply to a point raised by Bangladesh Bank that BUILD is working closely with the Ministry of Industries to get the definition of cottage, micro, small and medium enterprises to ensure that smaller and vulnerable businesses receive more policy priority and support. As BUILD continues to engage in research and facilitation of the businesses in Mongla and Bagerhat, support from the central bank will be essential.
In the keynote presentation, Md. Tahmid Zami, Additional Research Director of BUILD, noted that in the local BSCIC Industrial Estate of Mongla, around 50% of businesses are out of operation, and only 20% of workers are retained in many factories. The coconut oil mills, rice mills, small traders, and many other sectors have faced tremendous shock due to the COVID-19. Finance should be distributed to the cottage, micro and small enterprises without stringent requirements for rescuing the endangered businesses. He referred to the e-survey in the form of a KPI conducted by BUILD during February-March 2021, covering chamber representatives, local Government and BSCIC, Bank officials and Businesses.

Husne Ara Shikha, General Manager, SME and Special Credits Department informed about 6% of total money disbursed for SME have gone of Southwest region, in case of women, in number it is about 5.43% of the total and noted that there are both positive signs and mixed results in distributing credit to SMEs in the region. She mentioned that Bangladesh Bank has gone out of its way to developing a data dashboard to collect and manage disaggregated data on finance at the local level. As the finance extended under the Stimulus Package is high powered money, it cannot be continued for an indefinite period; it is essential to ensure especially state-owned commercial banks fully utilise their wide network of branches to disburse adequate credit to the remote businesses.

Syed Abdul Momen, Head of SMEs of BRAC Bank, mentioned that the definition of SMEs should be modified to target the cottage, micro and smaller enterprises more effectively. The decentralised credit management of BRAC and the agent banking sets a good example for the banking industry of the country for meeting the needs of the businesses at the rural level.

Enclosed are the press releases (in English and Bangla) for your kind consideration. Please feel free to contact us for any queries.

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