Prime Minister urges youths to be entrepreneurs

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the young generation to become entrepreneurs instead of chasing after jobs wrapping up academic life.

The Prime Minister made this call while inaugurating the eight-day National SME Fair-2021 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the city as the chief guest. She joined virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban on Sunday.

She mentioned the government’s initiatives of providing technical education and vocational training to the young people alongside making arrangement of different opportunities both off-line and online.

She said the government has taken all types of measures to develop the interested persons as an entrepreneur while anyone can be an entrepreneur availing his scope.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has also allocated separate fund in the budget for "Start Up Programme" so that the young generation can take this opportunity.

In order to offset the losses caused by Covid-19, Sheikh Hasina said the government has provided Taka 20,000 crore in first phase to give current capital loan/investment facilities to SME entrepreneurs.

And in second phase, the government also announced a Taka 1,500 crore stimulus package for the development of marginal rural people, she said.

In this connection, she said the government is providing 5 percent interest subsidy against the interest/profit rate of 9 percent that means the interest rate at the consumer level is only 4 percent.

She went on saying that they have also allocated Taka 300 crore to SME Foundation and it has successfully disbursed Taka 100 crore in two months of last fiscal where women entrepreneurs get loan 26 percent.

She hoped that the SME Foundation will also successfully distribute the remaining Taka 200 crore allocated in the current financial year.

With Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, MP in the chair, Small & Medium Enterprise (SME) Foundation Chairperson Dr. Md. Masudur Rahman delivered the welcome address.

State Minister for Industries Kamal Ahmed Mojumder MP, Secretary of the Ministry Zakia Sultana and Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industries (FBCCI) President Md Jashim Uddin also spoke.

Later, the Prime Minister also distributed National SME Entrepreneur Award-2021.

On behalf of the premier, the industries minister handed over crests, certificates and cheques to four entrepreneurs.

The fair will remain open from 10am to 8pm for all everyday till December 12.