The objectives of the REVIVE project is to enable an effective business environment for Cottage, Micro, Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (CMSMEs) in Bangladesh.
The areas the project will be highlighting are confidence building and advisory service, facilitating effective policy formulation, and strengthening the supply chain network.
Addressing the launching ceremony as chief guest, Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun said Bangladesh is now on its journey towards achieving SDGs by 2030, becoming a developing country by 2041 and a prospecting delta. These visions cannot be achieved without collaboration and partnership.
“The launch of REVIVE project aims to facilitate in creating an effective and enabling business environment for CMSMEs as a part of joint collaboration between ICE Center and UNDP,” he added.
FBCCI President Sheikh Fazle Fahim and Van Nguyen, deputy resident representative of UNDP Bangladesh, attended the programme as special guests.
Mentioning the key initiatives taken by the government during the coronavirus pandemic, Sheikh Fazle Fahim despite all these measures, agriculture and CMSMEs disbursements are regrettable due to reluctance of the banks in standing by those in NGO loan space.
“The regulators have instruments for banks to follow the BB circulars many of which were done on weekends to ease people’s inconvenience. However, several bank MDs and DMDs have not even read it. One agenda of the Circular in April was to set up help desks, but banks are yet to set up the desks with clearly stating stimuli at majority of their branches…. despite all our supports to banks to execute the stimuli,” he said.
Fahim also mentioned that FBCCI, since February’20, sat in dialogues with stakeholders in home and abroad on stimulus recovery and sustaining economy.
Besides, several social and philanthropic initiatives were also taken to aid front-liners and marginalized groups.
“FBCCI solicited a phase-wise response package that covered multiple socio-economic issues including supply chain, transport, logistics, production, import-export, supply of essential commodities etc. in addition to forming a sector wise council,” he said.
Van Nguyen, deputy resident representative of UNDP Bangladesh, said “We’re going through a historical moment- a moment of choice- the way in which we respond to the crisis matters. It should not be at the expense of our future generations. Our policy choices have to help us build better and greener.”
About the REVIVE project, she said “the initiative will let people receive free advisory business services we are partnering with you (ICE). Because we know you (ICE) have the comparative advantage. We need to act in unity and in solidarity.”
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Professor Md Akhtaruzzaman, Vice Chancellor of University of Dhaka, who chaired the programme, said despite being the youngest center of the DU, ICE has been playing very significant roles in innovation and entrepreneurship.
Describing the youths as wealth of today’s world, the VC said the center will be accommodating youths from different sectors.