BSS photo Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened the seven-day 11th national Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) fair in the capital on Sunday.
She inaugurated the fair at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) at Agargaon.
The fair will continue till May 25 under the aegis of the SME Foundation as it will be opened for visitors from 10 am to 9 pm daily.
More than 300 entrepreneurs are taking part in the fair as almost 60 percent participants are women entrepreneurs.
The SME fair will showcase 100 per cent local products. More than three hundred and fifty companies will participate in this year's fair.
At the same function, the prime minister handed over the National SME Award-2023 to seven small, medium and start-up entrepreneurs that includes crest and accreditation certificate.
Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, its Senior Secretary Zakia Sultana, President of FBCCI Mahbubul Alam and SME Foundation Chairperson Dr Md Masudur Rahman spoke at the function.
Of the award recipients, Swapna Rani Sen expressed her feelings on winning the National SME Award -2023.
This year's fair will see the largest number of 75 participants from the garment sector. Besides, 42 participants will showcase jute products, 38 to present handicrafts, 32 to display leather products and 27 to showcase processed agricultural products.
Moreover, 23 will display light engineering products, 14 to present food products, 13 to display IT-based services as 12 SME cluster entrepreneurs will take part in the fair from different parts of the country, 5 participants will showcase herbal industry products and 5 more will display jewellery products.
Four stalls will display plastic products, 3 to showcase electrical and electronics items, 3 to present furniture items and 19 others will display various government organizations products.
Besides, 30 banks, 15 public-private organizations, business clubs of 5 universities and about 50 other organizations will provide services to participants in the fair.
SME Business Incubation Centers in Dhaka and Chattogram under the supervision of SME Foundation will display their activities.
