SME Foundation, UNIDO join hands to promote eco-friendly startups

The SME Foundation and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have joined forces to promote environmentally friendly, recyclable, and circular economy-based startups and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Bangladesh.
The partnership falls under UNIDO’s project titled “Integrated Approach towards Sustainable Plastics Use and Marine Litter Prevention in Bangladesh,” which aims to drive innovation in the plastic value chain, support green ventures, and empower startups working in recycling and clean technologies.
The collaboration was announced at a meeting chaired by SME Foundation Chairperson Md Mushfiqur Rahman on Wednesday.
As part of the initiative, the SME Foundation will launch a six-month Cleantech Acceleration and Commercialization Programme, featuring awareness campaigns, application calls, participant selection, training, mentorship, prototype development, investor engagement, and a final exhibition and award ceremony.
The programme aligns with Bangladesh’s green industrialisation goals and places strong emphasis on gender equality and youth inclusion. A formal agreement for the initiative was signed last month by SME Foundation Managing Director Anwar Hossain Chowdhury and UNIDO Procurement Officer Alessandra Bravin.
According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), cottage, micro, small, and medium enterprises (CMSMEs) account for over 99% of industrial establishments in the country, contributing nearly 30% to GDP and employing more than 30 million people—around 85% of the industrial workforce.