In what is seen as a move that would give further respite to the cottage, micro, small and medium enterprises (CMSME) in Bangladesh, which is struggling hard to cope with the fallouts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the SME Foundation has received another Taka 200 crore from the Government’s incentive package for distribution amongst CMSMEs across Bangladesh.
Reports maintained this, citing sources within the SME Foundation and the Finance Department.
It may be mentioned here that with an aim to expediting the country’s (Bangladesh) economic recovery amidst the coronavirus pandemic, a total of Taka 300 crore has been allocated to the SME Foundation under the second phase of incentive packages even as the foundation, reportedly, disbursed Taka 100 crore in the 2020-21 fiscal year — in FY21, Bangladesh Government allocated Taka 1,500 crore in total for the improvement of living standards of the marginalised people in the CMSME sector and rural areas even as eight organisations were allocated funds for distribution in the sectors, of which Taka 300 crore was given to the SME Foundation — and will start disbursing the newly allocated Taka 200 crore soon.
Meanwhile, speaking to the media, Chairperson of the SME Foundation, Dr. Md. Masudur Rahman underlined the Finance Ministry has a specific policy on incentive disbursement and went on to add the SME Foundation always paid special attention to women entrepreneurs and has disbursed more than 25 per cent of its loan to them while also confirming that this issue will also be given priority while disbursing this year’s incentives as well.