BRAC Bank has recently completed a month-long training programme for cottage, micro, small and medium enterprise (CMSME) entrepreneurs in Narsingdi, with Tk25 lakh disbursed among participants under a Bangladesh Bank refinancing scheme aimed at helping grassroots businesses expand operations and create employment opportunities.
The programme was arranged in association with Bangladesh Bank and the Finance Division of the Ministry of Finance under the Entrepreneurship Development Programme, BRAC Bank said in a press release.
The training was conducted under the Finance Division’s Skills for Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Program (SICIP) with technical support from Bangladesh Bank.
The closing ceremony of the third batch of the programme was held in Narsingdi, marking the completion of the initiative designed to strengthen entrepreneurial and managerial capacity among CMSME owners.
Senior officials from Bangladesh Bank’s SME and Special Programmes Department, BRAC Bank representatives, local business leaders, entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts attended the programme.
The participants joined regular classes, project presentations, assessment tests and practical learning sessions conducted by resource persons from Bangladesh Bank and BRAC Bank throughout the month-long programme.
The training focused on business management, financial literacy, operational efficiency and sustainable business practices to help entrepreneurs improve competitiveness and strengthen their enterprises.
According to speakers at the programme, the SICIP initiative is helping grassroots entrepreneurs across the country build stronger businesses through skills development and easier access to finance.
Improved entrepreneurial capacity and concessional financing could support business expansion, increase productivity and generate jobs at the local level, they added.
A small product exhibition was also arranged during the closing ceremony, where local entrepreneurs displayed their products and innovations.
Guests visited the stalls and exchanged views with participants on business challenges, market opportunities and future expansion plans.
The Entrepreneurship Development Programme is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), managed by the SICIP Project and implemented by Bangladesh Bank’s SME and Special Programmes Department.
BRAC Bank said the initiative reflected its commitment to supporting sustainable economic development by empowering grassroots entrepreneurs through financing and capacity-building support.
