Discuss the Functions of SME Foundation

1.   Implementation of SME Policy Strategies adopted by the Government of Bangladesh

Implementation of the SME Policy Strategies adopted by the Government of Bangladesh is one of the main responsibilities of SME Foundation. SME Foundation continuously assist the government in core issues mentioned in the policy strategy like: recommend rational budget structure for SMEs, advice on fiscal and financial issues, assist to ensure quality of SME products, assist in capacity development, techno-entrepreneurship development at international level etc.

2.   Policy Advocacy & Research

Policy advocacy & research is one of the most important mandates of SME Foundation aims to sustainable SME development in the country. The main activities of Policy Advocacy & Research Wing are to facilitate for growing enabling environment to run SME business smoothly in the country.

3.   Credit Wholesaling Program

Credit wholesaling is one of the major activities of SME Foundation to ensure easy access to finance for the SME entrepreneurs. SME Foundation has already taken credit wholesaling program as pilot scheme with its own fund. SME Foundation helps the SME entrepreneurs by providing collateral free loan at 9% interest rate to the technology based potential SME manufacturing industries along with agro-based industries.   

4.   Capacity Building & Skill Development

SME Foundation organize training program in public-private partnership module to enhance the skill of SME entrepreneurs as well as to create new entrepreneur. Training programs like entrepreneurship development, SME cluster wise skill based, technology based, ICT based, ToT, productivity and quality improvement etc. are conducted by signing a MoU between training institute or SME related association.

5.   Access to Technology

SME Foundation is committed to improve competiveness of SMEs through technology up-gradation, adaptation of advanced technology, diffusion of appropriate technology, moving towards reverse engineering, and compliances and product certification. SME Foundation is also devoted to enable SMEs to energy efficient and environmentally sound.  

6.   Access to Information

SME Foundation provide update information and data through its own web portal (http://www.smef.org.bd) to the government, planner, decision maker, executive, researcher, investor, policy maker and to the SME entrepreneurs to establish new business or run business in a profitable manner.

7.   Women Entrepreneurship Development

Bring the women entrepreneur to main stream development process and facilitate them for women empowerment is one of the prioritized activity of SME Foundation. Main activities are: institutional capacity building of women chamber/ trade bodies, formulate gender action plan, encourage bankers for finance to women entrepreneurs, conduct study on women entrepreneurs, organize women entrepreneur conference, national SME women entrepreneurship award, SME product fair for women entrepreneur etc.

8.   Business Support Service

SME Foundation provides different kinds of business support service for entrepreneurship development. These are: promotion and market expansion of SME product, establish linkage between buyer and seller, provide advice and guideline with information support for new business development, publish SME business manual, organize SME product fair etc.