Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir has announced that the government is taking steps to reduce administrative complexities, widen loan opportunities, and strengthen policy-level representation for women entrepreneurs.
He made the remarks on Monday afternoon during a meeting with a delegation from the Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI), led by its President Sangeeta Ahmed, at the Ministry of Industries.
Commerce Minister stated that under a newly introduced single-window system, female business owners will be able to collect essential documents online.
These include trade licences, Import Registration Certificates (IRC), and Export Registration Certificates (ERC).
Entrepreneurs can submit applications and pay designated fees from anywhere in the country or abroad, minimising the need to visit government offices physically.
Regarding SME sector financing, Muktadir revealed that loan allocation has been expanded from Tk300 crore to Tk2,000 crore, which will be distributed at an interest rate of 6 per cent.
He also expressed a positive stance on reconstituting the SME Board to boost women’s participation at policymaking levels.
During the meeting, the BWCCI delegation highlighted challenges such as a lack of business data, complexities in formal registration, and limited district-level coordination.
To overcome these hurdles, they proposed creating a complete central database, establishing a central compliance desk, and holding regular central-district coordination meetings.
The delegates stressed that the absence of precise statistics regarding women entrepreneurs across various sectors makes it difficult to assess needs and deliver targeted assistance.
They urged mandatory data collection by district-level women chambers alongside the central database.
Moreover, they suggested holding biannual central-district coordination meetings to resolve local issues effectively.
Expressing appreciation for alternative service platforms assisting women entrepreneurs, Muktadir reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding financial and business support.
BWCCI Treasurer Shahana Jafreen, along with delegation members Ridma Khan and Ulfat Jahan Moon, were also present at the meeting.
