Experts and businesspeople on Wednesday said micro, small and medium enterprises would play a significant role in stimulating the GDP growth and reducing the joblessness rate by generating employment. They suggested that the country’s SME sector should unveil fresh windows by creating new enterprises that will ultimately make the economic activities vibrant. Their suggestion and opinion came at the launching ceremony of the Integrated Association of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises of Bangladesh, also known as IamsmeofBangladesh, at the Radisson Hotel in the capital. BB governor Atiur Rahman as chief guest launched the association. He gave thanks to the visiting Indian delegates of IamsmeofIndia for their continuing support to the formation and launching of IamsmeofBangladesh. He said that MSME in Bangladesh and elsewhere were not well organised and hence their voices were not always heard by the policy makers. ‘Only united voices are given ear to in every sphere of life. United we can achieve; we can overcome any hurdles in this highly competitive world. IamsmeofIndia has demonstrated that unity is a force that you must reckon, unity is strength and unity provides you an edge,’ he said. ‘I am hopeful that IamsmeofBangladesh would also be able to bring meaningful changes to the lives of MSME entrepreneurs in Bangladesh as have been possible in our closest neighbouring country due to the proactive role of IamsmeofIndia.’ He said, ‘I came to know that 16 highly energised entrepreneurs, seven of whom are women, have taken the first bold step towards formation of this new venture. This 16-member team of MSME entrepreneurs is going to launch IamsmeofBangladesh today [Wednesday].’ This is just a meagre number and within a short time hundreds and thousands of MSME entrepreneurs will join the movement, he hoped. European Union ambassador to Bangladesh Pierre Mayaudon said that the EU had extended its support to boosting the country’s MSME sector through Inspired Bangladesh. Inspired Bangladesh, funded by the Bangladesh government and EU, is now working to promote the country’s MSME sector. Mayaudon said a significant number of Bangladeshi people were now migrating illegally and facing miseries. The people would not have faced the miseries if the country’s MSME sector was strengthened, he said. High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Pankaj Shawran said mutual relation between India and Bangladesh had gone to a new height due to the initiative. The two country’s MSME sector will strengthen more by sharing the experiences of the two associations, he said. IamsmeofIndia chairman Rajiv Chawla said that there were many business organisations and chambers in India and Bangladesh, but the newly-established association would be dedicated to the MSME sector. He said IamsmeofIndia specially focused on research and development to search new arena of the MSME sector. He hoped that the new association would take initiative to solve the problem of the MSME entrepreneurs. Former BB general manger and chief adviser to IamsmeofBangladesh Sukamal Sinha Choudhury said he had felt need of introducing a separate organisation to boost the country’s MSME activities. He said that IamsmeofInida had encouraged them in forming the new association in a bid to expedite the MSME sector. National Small Industries Corporation, India chairman Rabindranath, BB deputy governor SK Sur Chowdhury and Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry Hossain Khaled spoke, among other, at the programme.
