Speakers at a workshop on Wednesday mentioned that there have gaps in the SME Policy 2019 that it doesn't mention about the Persons with Disabilities in the policy.
To explore the scope of employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in the SME sector, they said, youth with disabilities can be employed in the large number of SMEs.
Access Bangladesh Foundation organized the virtual workshop with technical support of Sight savers and financial support of UKaid on Wednesday titled “Employment Opportunities for Youth with Disabilities in the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Sector in Bangladesh.
Utpall Mallick, Programme Lead of Inclusion Works gave an overview of the project that the programme is lead by Sighsavers, funded by UKaid, implemented along with 11 consortium members in Bangladesh, Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda.
Albert Mollah, Co-Founder & Executive Director of Access Bangladesh Foundation presented a keynote highlighting the scopes of employment for the Youth with Disabilities in SME sector of Bangladesh.
Mollah pointed in his keynote that SMEs are making significant contributions in achieving the economic growth which is 25% of national GDP.Tthere are 7900000 SME establishments currently operating in Bangladesh (93% small and 6.4% medium), SME sector generates 35.49% employment, the SME Foundation identified 177 clusters of small industries across the country and is rendering entrepreneurship training and low rate financing.
He mentioned about the gaps in the SME Policy 2019 that there is no mention of Persons with Disabilities in the policy. To explore the scope of employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in the SME sector, he says, youth with disabilities can be employed in the large number of SMEs.
A set of recommendations was given for the policy-makers which includes disability inclusion in the SME policy, strategy, plans and programmmes, including persons with disabilities in the training programmes, giving priority to entrepreneurs with disabilities in the national SME product fair etc.
Ayon Debnath, Advocacy focal of Sightsavers said, there is no disability component in the SME Foundation so follow-up action is important to include persons with disabilities in the SME sector. Mohua Paul, Co-Founder of Access Bangladesh emphasizes on incensement of participation of women entrepreneurs with disabilities in the SME sector
The Chief Guest of the event Dr. MafizurRahman, Managing Director of SME Foundation appreciates the initiative of Access Bangladesh Foundation and welcomes the recommendations cordially raised from the workshop and says that he will keep the recommendations in his active consideration and will try to solve the issues from the very beginning of the next year onward.
