LightCastle Partners, Meta join hands to support SMEs

The organisation announced the initiative on Monday, said a press release.

Through this initiative, small business owners and entrepreneurs in Bangladesh will receive hands-on training on Meta’s digital platforms and AI-powered tools. The training will equip entrepreneurs with practical skills to reach new customers, improve productivity, strengthen their marketing efforts, and explore opportunities to expand into both local and international markets.

In Bangladesh, the programme will deliver workshops and activities through LightCastle Partners. The training will focus on helping entrepreneurs effectively use digital platforms to reach potential customers, strengthen their online presence, and create new business opportunities.

Bangladesh has a growing and dynamic ecosystem of small and medium-sized businesses. The country’s rapidly expanding digital economy is creating new opportunities for ready-made garment suppliers, agricultural producers, small entrepreneurs, and other businesses to connect with customers and expand their operations.

Egypt keen to invest in country's industrial sector

As more entrepreneurs seek to leverage digital and AI technologies to reach customers and grow their businesses, practical training and strong local partnerships will play an increasingly important role in enabling them to adopt and use these technologies effectively.

Tehara Punchihewa, associate public policy manager at Meta, said, “At Meta, we see every day how small businesses use our AI-enabled tools to reach customers and grow. The Small Business Growth Academy is about giving more entrepreneurs the practical skills and support they need to use these tools confidently, compete more effectively, and take part in the opportunities being created by the digital economy.”

The Small Business Growth Academy will be implemented across 12 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, with an initial aim of supporting more than 10,000 businesses across the region. Training programmes will be tailored to the needs of local markets and the specific business realities of each country.

Key areas of training will include strengthening businesses’ online presence, improving digital platform capabilities, enhancing digital marketing effectiveness, increasing the use of AI-powered tools, improving customer engagement, and identifying new opportunities for business expansion.

“At LightCastle Partners, we see every day how investing in grassroots entrepreneurship transforms communities and drives inclusive economic progress,” said Bijon Islam, chief executive officer (CEO) of the organisation.

“Our partnership efforts are about giving more founders the mentorship, insights, and structural support they need to build competitive enterprises and contribute actively to regional development.”

The Small Business Growth Academy in Bangladesh is part of Meta’s broader Asia-Pacific programme. Through this initiative, Meta will work with governments, industry partners, and local business organisations to help entrepreneurs develop the practical skills needed to participate in and thrive in the digital economy.