Women Entrepreneurs Repay Loans in Most Cases: Tipu Munshi

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said on Sunday, he is confident that bank loans given to women entrepreneurs are repaid in 99 percent of cases, reports UNB.

“They don’t run away with the money like the others, at least,” he said.

The commerce minister said this while speaking as the chief guest at an event on the occasion of International Women's Entrepreneurship Day and the 5th founding anniversary of Women Entrepreneurs Network for Development Association (WEND) at Gulshan Shooting Club Auditorium on Saturday (November 19) night.

Tipu said, “We should support our women entrepreneurs. The path for women will not be easy. But they must go forward with courage.”

"We will take initiative to ensure market access for women entrepreneurs," Munshi said.

Jasim Uddin, President of FBCCI, said that women entrepreneurs face obstacles in getting loans. FBCCI is negotiating with Bangladesh Bank so that they can get loans easily.

"We have opened a wing on behalf of FBCCI to provide business support to new entrepreneurs. All information can be found in that wing. We focus on innovation and creating new designs for women entrepreneurs," he added.

European Union Ambassador in Dhaka, Charles Whiteley, said that it is necessary to ensure that women can easily get bank loans to do business.

"I recently visited Chattogram and Rangamati. Many women there said they have business ideas," he said.

But they do not own any land. So they are not able to use the land as collateral, and as a result, they are not getting loans, he added.

WEND President Dr Nadia Binte Amin, USAID Feed the Future Bangladesh Trade Activity Chief Mark Shaiman, and Export Readiness Fund (ERF) Program Team Leader Dave Runganaikaloo, also spoke at the function.

At the event, WEND presented the 'Special Women's Empowerment Award' to Bangladesh Export Development Bureau (EPB) for taking important steps in empowering women entrepreneurs.

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi handed over the award to EPB Vice Chairman AH Ahsan.