DHAKA, Dec 4, 2021 (BSS) - The National SME Fair 2021 begins in the city tomorrow to help small and medium entrepreneurs promote market that was hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic.

   Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to open virtually the 8-day long small and medium enterprise (SME) fair at Bangabandhu International Convention Centre.

   The SME foundation is organising the annual event after a break of 19-month and for the first time, 10 banks, financial institutes and Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) will participate in the fair to be held from December 5 to 13.

   President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today issued separate messages laying emphasis on boosting of the small and medium enterprise sector for accelerating economic progress in the country.

   In his message, the President said, "The importance of the SME sector in building a developed and prosperous country and as a driving force of the economy is immense. Many countries have emerged as industrialized nations through developing their SME sector and achieved success in economic development, he added. 

   "The present government has set target to build a developed country by 2041 through expanding business-trade and investment. To achieve this target, huge workforces will have to be involved in productive oriented sectors and build labour-intensive SMEs," said the President.

  He said goods produced in SME sector are being exported after meeting domestic demand. He suggested improving the quality of SME products and exploring new markets for the products to face successfully the global competition.

  "There is huge potentiality of SME industry in Bangladesh and I hope the SME fair will play important role in exploiting this potentiality," said the president. 

   Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her message said as a labour-intensive sector, investment of small-scale capital in this sector creates huge jobs that actually can make important contribution in ensuring an equal social development. 

    Present Awami League government has been working relentlessly for the expansion and sustainable development of micro, small and medium industries in the country, she said, adding that SME sector is playing important role in achieving Vision-2021, SDG 2031 and Vision 2041. 

  She said the Covid-19 pandemic has affected SMEs in Bangladesh like other countries in the country and the government announced stimulus package for the sector and has also been implementing it. She urged people to stand by SMEs and buy and use SME products to keep rolling the wheels of SME industry. 

   She laid emphasis on developing more entrepreneurs in SME sector and said SME fair has been playing important role in creating jobs for youths and thus 'Sonar Bangla' as dreamt by Bangabandhu will be built. 

   In this year's SME fair, all categories of entrepreneurs, financiers, and trainers will come under one roof targeting to provide all necessary support to help them recover businesses of SME products.

   The foundation held the last SME Fair in March 2020 which was quickly wrapped up after the first few cases of coronavirus infections were detected in the country. 

   This year the fair has been designed to support the SME sector players in all aspects so that they get confidence back in doing businesses.

   Due to space constraint, the foundation has planned to allow 325 entrepreneurs in the venue after selecting them considering product categories. 

   Sources said 325 entrepreneurs of which 60 per cent are females have been selected from remote and micro level of entrepreneurs, from traditional to new and diversified products.

   This year's fair includes seminars, training for newcomers, networking, skill development in technology and cluster base product development.

   Brac Bank, Eastern Bank, Bank Asia, Janata Bank, Dhaka Bank, Mutual Bank, BSCIC, BITAC, BSTI, JDPC and BCSIR will participate in the fair.

   The products to be on the display include jute, jute products, leather and leather products, handicrafts, cane products, potteries, ceramics, artificial flowers, jewelry, boutiques, food processing, Jamdani, agro processing. 

   Besides, products from light engineering, plastic, electronic and electrical, agro machinery and IT and courier sector will also be there at the fair.