Give SMEs easy finance: experts
Small and medium enterprises should be provided with easy access to finance to help them develop and manage supply chains for the benefit of customers and businesses, analysts said yesterday.
“One key element in supply chain management is SME loan. If the small producers who have just started business get proper financing, they can maintain the regular supply chain and make it better in future,” said Mashiur Rahman, prime minister's economic affairs adviser.
Besides, efficient project management and skills development are very important for ensuring supply chain finance, he said.
He shared the view at a roundtable on “Challenges and prospects of supply chain management in Bangladesh”, organised jointly by the Bonik Barta, a Bangla daily, and IPDC Finance at Pan Pacific Sonargaon in Dhaka.
The discussants focused on the overall scenario of supply chain management in Bangladesh and challenges faced by the SMEs working as suppliers and distributors in the supply chain.
Mominul Islam, managing director of IPDC Finance, said they want to encourage SME finance but still rely on collateral finance.
“We should rather collaborate to endure a zero collateral cash flow-based supply chain finance that will definitely ensure efficiency.”
Exposure of the virtue of supply chain management among the youth will pave the way for better reconstruction of the nation as a whole, said Abdul Mannan, state minister for finance.
All kinds of disruption in terms of transportation and logistics shall be addressed to develop an efficient and effective supply chain, said Kazi M Aminul Islam, executive chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority.
Professor Shibli Rubayat Ul Islam, dean of the business studies faculty of Dhaka University, also attended the event.
