BRAC Bank has extended financing facilities to up-and-coming entrepreneurs who have been given extensive training under the Skills for Employment Investment Program (SEIP), a press release said Monday.
SEIP is an entrepreneurship development initiative of Bangladesh Government and Asian Development Bank, coordinated by Bangladesh Bank.
BRAC Bank is the first bank among 23 others that conducted elaborate training to 50 budding entrepreneurs in two batches under SEIP. The training programme aims to facilitate the upcoming business owners to develop and hone entrepreneurial and managerial skills to expand and sustain their businesses.
BRAC Bank is the first bank in the Bangladeshi banking sector to partner with Bangladesh Bank on SEIP to begin the training. After completing the training, nine entrepreneurs received financing from BRAC Bank to expand their businesses.
Abdur Rouf Talukder, Governor, Bangladesh Bank, handed the cheques to the entrepreneurs at a conference on ‘Entrepreneurship Development Program & Access to Credit Facilities’ at Bangladesh Bank Training Academy in Mirpur on October 29, 2022.
Abu Farah Md. Nasser, Deputy Governor; Ekhlasur Rahman, Executive Project Director, SEIP Project; Md. Zaker Hossain, Director, SME and Special Programmes Department, Bangladesh Bank; Selim R. F. Hussain, Managing Director & CEO, BRAC Bank, were also present.
The nine entrepreneurs who received the financing are Sahanaz Parvin Nipa of Nobo Ranga Handicrafts, Md. Khalilur Rahman of RannaBhat Restaurant, Kaniz Fatema of Deshi Fresh Tea, Mushfiqur Rahman Khan of New York Aquarium Fish, Jiarun Nahar of Mini Beauti Parlor, Sadia Islam Tama of Ghasphul, Fatama Akter of Care at Home, Md. Sarowar Di Alam of Paikary Business and Ferdousi Akter of Dolly Herbal Beauty Parlour.
Commenting on the initiative, Selim R. F. Hussain, Managing Director & CEO, BRAC Bank, said: “As an SME-focused bank, BRAC Bank always emphasizes ensuring easy access to finance to the new and grassroots entrepreneurs. SEIP allows us to impart necessary training to promising entrepreneurs and, at the same time, extend financing to help them build, sustain and expand businesses. We thank Bangladesh Bank for making us a partner of the entrepreneur-grooming initiative.”
