Sri Lanka to help develop SME sector in Bangladesh

Sri Lankan State Minister for SME Development Prasanna Ranaweera has said Sri Lanka will work with the SME Foundation for the development of small and medium entrepreneurs in Bangladesh.

The plan would be to implement programs in joint ventures for the development of the SME sector, Prasanna Ranaweera said during a meeting with SME Foundation Chairperson Professor Dr Md Masudur Rahman at the foundation’s office in the capital on Sunday, according to a press release.

“SME Foundation is implementing various programs including product quality improvement, marketing, financing, SME cluster development, women-entrepreneur development, and skill development of Bangladesh SME entrepreneurs,” said Md Masudur Rahman.

“However, the Sri Lankan Government is doing many more important works for the development of the SME sector through different ministries and various Government institutions, and the SME Foundation will try to implement it for the development of the SME sector in Bangladesh by gaining experience from there,” the SME Foundation Chairperson added.

Sri Lanka’s National Craft Council Chairman Sampath Erahapola, Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Dhaka (Acting) Ruwanthi Delpitiya and SME Foundation Managing Director Dr Mofizur Rahman, among other officials of Sri Lanka and SME Foundation, were present in the meeting.

Before the meeting, the guests visited the exhibition of products made by SME entrepreneurs.

Abu Manzoor Saif, deputy general manager of the Cluster Development Department, presented the picture of the SME sector in Bangladesh and the activities of the SME Foundation in the meeting. 

Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Dhaka (Acting) Ruwanthi Delpitiya spoke about the current situation of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the SME sector.

National Craft Council, Sri Lanka Chairperson Sampath Erahapola highlighted the progress of his country’s textile sector.

Prasanna Ranaweera invited SME Foundation officials to visit the Sri Lankan Institute for SME Development and expressed hope that the relationship between the two countries will be strengthened in the future. (Source: https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/industry/sri-lanka-sme-foundation-development-small-and-medium-ntrepreneursngladesh#lg=1&slide=0)