Country’s women entrepreneurs Sunday demanded determination of sectoral growth of small and medium enterprises (SME) clusters and special allocation for them in the new budget for faster expansion of their business.
The Women Entrepreneurs Association of Bangladesh (WEAB) also sought establishment of a separate bank styled “Women Bank” with a sizeable amount of paid-up capital allocation in the fiscal budget.
Addressing a press conference in Sheuti conference room in the city, WEAB founder-president Nasreen Fatema Awal also demanded allocation for capacity-building training of women entrepreneurs in SME clusters like agro-based, agro-processed, ICT handicrafts, diversified jute products, products from bamboo and so.
A budgetary allocation of Tk 5.0 billion was also demanded for promoting women entrepreneurs in the SME clusters.
Ms Awal said, “New women entrepreneurship development should be given priority in the budget and in this regard special type of skill-development programme is essential for them.”
She said the revenue administration should be women-friendly and businesses run by women entrepreneurs should be offered tax holiday for 10 years.
The association also demanded priority allocation of land for women entrepreneurs in special economic zones.
WEAB president Shahruk Rahman, vice president Salma Masud and members of the executive committee were present among others.
-FE
