Allocate funds for Bangladesh women�s entrepreneurship development: BWCCI

Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI) yesterday demanded allocation of at least Tk 25 crore in the budget for 2006-07 for women entrepreneurship development. They also demanded tax holiday facility for up to 10 years for the women entrepreneurs.

The women entrepreneurs placed their demands at a view exchange meeting held at the National Press Club in Dhaka.

They said women entrepreneurs' contribution to the national economy is increasing day by day, but they [women entrepreneurs] are not getting adequate financial support from the government.

Addressing the meeting, BWCCI President Selima Ahmad said the government, in every annual development programme, allocates funds for women development, but unfortunately, for women entrepreneurship development there has not been any budgetary allocations so far.

She also said in the last budget, government allocation was less than one percent for women development, which is very insufficient.

Selima said, "Women are not getting enough support. We sought an appointment couple of months ago with the finance minister to discuss the upcoming budget, but we are yet to get it."

The entrepreneurs demanded duty free import of raw materials and capital goods as well as 10 to 15 percent cash incentives on export for women entrepreneurs.

They also demanded for income tax rebate of up to TK 3 lakh and provision of VAT (value added tax) exemption for new women entrepreneurs for minimum five years.

Ruba Rummana, assistant professor of Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, presented a keynote paper titled 'Budgetary analysis of women entrepreneurship development in Bangladesh'. Selina Kader, vice-president of the chamber, among others, was present at the meeting.

Source: South Asian Media Net/ The Daily Star.

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