In the 2023–24 financial year, nearly 35,000 small and medium-sized entrepreneurs directly benefited from various programmes implemented by the SME Foundation. Entrepreneurs have called for a specific allocation in the national budget to support the development of the SME sector and enhance employment opportunities across the country.

Chairperson of the SME Foundation, Md Mushfiqur Rahman, shared this information during the organisation’s 19th Annual General Meeting, held on Saturday.

He reported that a total of 34,720 entrepreneurs received direct support through the foundation’s initiatives in FY 2023–24—comprising 17,001 men and 17,719 women.

At the meeting, the foundation’s Managing Director Anwar Hossain Chowdhury presented various statistics regarding the programmes carried out during the financial year to members of the Board of Directors and the General Council. He stated that the SME Foundation implemented 692 initiatives aimed at developing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) during the period.

Key initiatives included the 11th National SME Product Fair, the National SME Entrepreneur Award, regional fairs in Jashore and Mymensingh, the 7th Buyer-Seller Conference and Product Fair, the 14th International SME Women Expo in Chattogram (supported by the foundation), and the signing of agreements with 23 banks and financial institutions to provide loans to entrepreneurs. Additionally, the foundation conducted 141 training programmes to enhance the skills of SME entrepreneurs.

The meeting, chaired by Md Mushfiqur Rahman, also featured in the presentation of the Board of Directors’ report on the foundation’s activities during FY 2023–24. The audited financial statements and auditor’s report were approved, as was the budget for FY 2025–26.

During the session, members of the General Council shared feedback and suggestions regarding the board’s report. They urged the government to formally recognise the SME Foundation as a coordinating agency for the implementation of development programmes and called for a specific budget allocation to expand support to a greater number of SME entrepreneurs.