Lack of a business platform, an obstacle to the integration of women entrepreneurs in the informal sector
SME clusters produce a long list of products to meet local demand that substitute imports. Photo: Mumit M/TBS
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SME clusters produce a long list of products to meet local demand that substitute imports. Photo: Mumit M/TBS
According to a survey, about 61% of women entrepreneurs in the informal sector cannot be incorporated into the formal sector due to lack of business-related enterprise or a suitable platform.
The survey conducted under the “Empowering Women CSOs for Good Governance (WEE)” project also revealed that 42% of women face barriers in economic activities, 38% experienced discrimination in payment, 28% were denied ownership of assets and 28% were unable to obtain access to a profession for being a woman.
Traidcraft Exchange hosted a roundtable on Sunday to initiate a dialogue between the formal and informal sector on their European Union co-funded initiative, “Empowering Women’s CSOs for Good Governance (WEE)”, at a hotel in the capital.
Traidcraft Exchange organized this discussion to officially launch the WEE project which will benefit 15,000 women and their families in the districts of Jashore, Khulna, Faridpur, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh. Through this project, Traidcraft Exchange aims to empower and build 3,000 selected female entrepreneurs from scratch by providing them with business training and good governance guidelines.
Traidcraft Exchange adviser Foyzul Bari Himel said they have already selected 15,000 women to work with.
Traidcraft Exchange started the WEE project in 2021 which will end in 2024. Bikash Bangladesh Ulashi Sreejoni Shangha (USS) helped implement the project.
Shahed Ferdous, Country Director of Traidcraft Exchange, Bangladesh, said that Traidcraft Exchange aims to achieve the long-term integration of these women into the formal value chain and ensure their contribution to business and market development, especially in deeply undeveloped rural areas.
Asif Uddin Ahmed, assistant professor and director of the ULAB MBA program led the seminar.