The role of small and medium industries in the overall economic development of Bangladesh is undeniable. The elimination of extreme poverty and the role of women in this field can play a pivotal role in equality and empowerment of women. Around 77 percent of the households had access to any financial services in Bangladesh. However, the access to formal financial services is only 37 percent and that to quasi-formal finance is 43 percent. A total of 26 percent of the households have access to informal finance.

Problems faced by women entrepreneurs can be categorized into two groups: 1) the socio-cultural barriers faced by women in general which eventually prevent them from participating in economic and business activities and 2) the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in case of gaining access to finance. While Bangladesh has seen gains in the status of women and gender equality over the years, women were found to exercise limited control over resources. Further, socio-cultural stigma, i.e. negative perception about working women often prevent them from pursuing business activities. In fact, without the support of the husband or household heads (i.e. male family members including father and brother), women often still do not engage in business ventures.

Of the demand side problems, the most significant ones are: lack of overall knowledge among women entrepreneurs of the available business opportunities and credit facilities; hesitation in applying for a loan from a commercial bank; high loan interest rates; rigidness about loan-related papers and collateral; lack of knowledge and information regarding where they should go to receive assistance from the commercial banks; and lack of business or technical experiences among women entrepreneurs.

Capacity-related issues: As women entrepreneurs still lack access to information, do not have adequate training to devise a business plan, and their financial and business expertise is not necessarily satisfactory, capacity of individual women entrepreneurs needs to be strengthened significantly.

Policy-related issues: There are some areas where further policy interventions are necessary. In effect, policy interventions should be in place to support women entrepreneurs to overcome issues related with guarantors and collateral.

With each training, the entrepreneurs have adapted presentation, approach, and pedagogy based on feedback gathered from trainee surveys. By presenting more specific case studies, drawing from the experiences of participants, and using more technology, post-training feedback has been increasingly positive. Of the first five training sessions, maximum participants reported being confident to apply for a loan after attending.  Aside from preparing SMEs to apply for credit, engagement of Aurora has strengthened to build markets training sessions work to provide participants with experiences where they are empowered to embrace their roles as entrepreneurs, innovators and agents of change in the development of their country.

Long duration of the training

Refresher training

Residential facilities for the participants

It will be better if the training arrange in district level

v  Develop strategy for getting loan for the participants

v  Create income opportunities for the participant

v  Advance training on Entrepreneurship Development

ü  Tendency of the participants towards entrepreneurship development

ü  Government initiative to develop entrepreneurship development

ü  Establish new business

ü  Manage their business properly

ü  Participants got the innovative idea and now they can generate new ideas

ü  After the training many participants establish new business

Ø  Inadequate logistic facilities of some venues

Ø  If there is no refresher training they will forgot the training and entrepreneurship will not develop

Ø  Some participants were seeking jobs so entrepreneurship is at risk

Ø   Many participants has no fund for starting a business

• Inquisitiveness of the participants
• Participants’ commitment & enthusiasm
• Most of the participants were very cooperative
• The organizers (PRISM & SME Foundation) were very cooperative
• Try to deliver my best a Resource Person

• During the pandemic, it was difficult to attend the training properly

Venue: Sonartori Tower(Level 7), Sonargaon Link Road, Bangla Motor, Ramna, Dhaka

Venue: Conference Room, Shishuk Regional Office, Daudkandi, Comilla

Venue: Conference Room, Adnan Restaurant & Café, Dhamrai

Venue: Upazila Parishad, Birganj

Venue: TMSS Training Center, Thengamara, Bogura Sadar, Bogura