Dhaka: The 5-day fourth ‘National SME Fair 2016’ began in the city on Sunday at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, reports UNB.

About 200 small and medium entrepreneurs of different sectors are participating in the exhibition to showcase their products.

Inaugurating the exhibition, Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu said the government has been giving most emphasis on the growth of the SME sector as it creates the most employment for the people.

SME sector has been playing a major role in the economic development of the country as it contributed most to the country’s GDP, he observed.

Appreciating the state-owned SME Foundation for organising the fair, he said this will encourage new entrepreneurs to take more initiatives for business.

He said the government is setting up local-area based industrial zones to promote industrialisation. Entrepreneurs should set up their industries in the zones to avail the facilities of electricity and gas.

With SME Foundation chairman KM Habibullah in the chair, the function was also addressed, among others by, State Minister for Finance and Planning Abdul Mannan, FBCCI president Abdul Motlub Ahmed and SME Fiundation Managing Director Shafiqul Islam.

Abdul Matlub Ahmed said that SME Foundation needs to be more strengthened through capacity building to finance the SME sector.

He urged the government to take measures for capacity building of the SME foundation for the sake of the country’s economic development.

Many potential investors cannot develop business because of fund shortage. SME Foundation should provide them with loans at lower interest, he said.