The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on "Reform of SME Policy-2019 for Sustainable Growth and Innovation" at the DCCI auditorium on Saturday (19 October). The discussion emphasised the importance of coordination among agencies, structural reforms, and effective management for the development of the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector.
DCCI President Ashraf Ahmed presented the keynote paper, stressing that industrialisation and export growth, beyond an agro-based economy, are essential for the sustainability of the national economy.
He highlighted that the CMSME (Cottage, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) sector can create substantial employment opportunities, especially for the 500,000 graduates entering the job market each year. He proposed the redefinition of SME classifications and emphasized easier loan access, innovative financing models, automation of licensing, and the establishment of a ‘National Industrial Standard’ for product quality.
Md. Salim Ullah, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Industries, assured that the government is working on an internationally compliant SME policy and urged cooperation from all stakeholders.
Md. Anwar Hossain, Vice Chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), highlighted the importance of automation in government services and emphasized strengthening backward linkages in the SME sector.
Mirza Nurul Ghani Shovon, President of the National Association of Small and Cottage Industries of Bangladesh (NASCIB), called for better coordination among agencies and recommended including an arbitration system in the new SME policy to ensure smoother implementation.
Other speakers, including representatives from Bangladesh Bank, microfinance institutions, and various industry bodies, emphasized the need for easier access to finance, better documentation processes, and improved inter-ministerial coordination for the development of the SME sector.
The discussion concluded with a call for stronger collaboration between government agencies, the private sector, and financial institutions to address the unique challenges SMEs face and to ensure the sector's sustainable growth.
