ZCZC
BSS-28
SME-SDG-PROJECT
UNGC, BRAC Bank, dev partners join hands for sustainability of SMEs
DHAKA, Oct 14, 2019 (BSS) – United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) has
launched the first ever SME Toolkit Pilot Project with BRAC Bank Limited
pledging to work together with all the stakeholders to ensure sustainability
of SME businesses in Bangladesh.
Global Compact Network Bangladesh (GCNB) in partnership with BRAC Bank, UN
Global Compact, UNICEF Bangladesh, ILO Bangladesh and DBL Group have observed
‘SME Sustainability Day’ on October 14, 2019 for the first time in
Bangladesh, said a media release.
The event is aimed at promoting sustainable business through SME
entrepreneurship development to gain access to local and international trade.
As part of the initiative, 60 promising Bangladeshi SME entrepreneurs were
given extensive training on SME Toolkit under the tutelage of UNGC, GCNB and
BRAC Bank.
A number of field visits will also be organized to see the best practices
of sustainable business in Bangladesh’s leading corporate entities. The visit
will help the SME business owners learn from the best practices and replicate
the same in their own business.
In Bangladesh, there are over six million SMEs, which account for 75
percent of the domestic economy, employ 30 percent of the workforce and
contribute more than 20 percent to GDP.
UNGC marks SME Sustainability Day at a time when the Bangladesh government
puts paramount importance on SMEs, which fuels the growth engine, as the
country sets sight to become a middle income country graduating from least
developed country.
Abul Kalam Azad, Principal Coordinator, SDG Affairs, Prime Minister’s
Office, spoke at the inaugural ceremony as the chief guest. Mia Seppo, UN
Resident Coordinator, Bangladesh; Kamran T. Rahman, President, Bangladesh
Employers’ Federation; Lila Rashid, General Manager, SME and Special
Programmes, Bangladesh Bank; Mari-lou, Manager, UN Global Compact Office, New
York; Shahamin S. Zaman, ED, Global Compact Network Bangladesh and Selim R.
F. Hussain, Managing Director and CEO, BRAC Bank; also spoke at the ceremony
held at a city hotel today.
In the technical session, Belinda Chanda, Operational and Program Support
Specialist at ILO Bangladesh made a presentation on ‘Better Work Bangladesh
Programme’ and Simon Pickup, CSR Specialist at UNICEF Bangladesh made a
deliberation on ‘Children’s Rights and Business’.
Commenting on the initiative, Managing Director and CEO of BRAC Bank Selim
R. F. Hussain, said “This toolkit will enable our valued SME clients to link
sustainability with decent work environment and help them set direction by
placing their purpose, vision and strategy into the context of global
sustainability”.
Executive Director of Global Compact Network Bangladesh Shahamin S. Zaman
said, “SMEs are the backbone of Bangladesh’s industry. So, we need to build
their capacity towards responsible and sustainable business.”
BSS/PR/TAN/ARS/1742 hrs