The biggest annual event for domestic small and medium entrepreneurs—the 12th National SME Product Fair 2025—begun at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in Agargaon in the capital on Sunday.
Organized by the SME Foundation, the fair will continue until December 14.
The government’s Industries, Housing and Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan inaugurated it at the center’s “Hall of Fame.”
The program was presided over by SME Foundation Chairperson Md Musfiqur Rahman.
Bida executive chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Industries Md. Nuruzzaman, and SME Foundation Board of Directors Member and president of Women Entrepreneurs Association of Bangladesh Nasreen Fatema Awal were present as special guests.
City Bank MD and CEO Masrur Arefin was present as guest of honor.
The Foundation’s managing director Anwar Hossain Chowdhury delivered the welcome address and the convener of the implementation committee Shamim Ahmed delivered the welcome address.
Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan said: “In addition to expanding the market for domestic products, finding new export markets is also the need of the hour. Regular research is necessary to determine which products are in high demand in which countries.”
He said that to make the SME sector dynamic, the Foundation must be transformed into a modern, research-based and technology-rich organization.
Crests, certificates and checks were presented to the best entrepreneurs of the year in 6 categories at the event.
The awardees were:
- Micro (Female): Zuena Ferdous (Ahlad Fashions)
- Micro (Male): Md. Wahiduzzaman (Ribana)
- Small (Female): Md. Sirajum Munira (Sutar Kabyo)
- Small (Male): Aman Ullah (Aman Plastic Toys Industries)
- Medium (Male): Kazi Md. Monir Hossain (Aparajeyo)
- Startup: Md. Mahfuzul Haque (Dubotech Digital)
- More than 300 organizations are participating
More than 350 small and medium enterprises are participating in the fair, 60% of whom are women entrepreneurs.
The number of stalls by sector is RMG: 74, handicrafts and crafts: 54, footwear and leather products: 40, jute products: 35, agricultural and food processed products: 28, light engineering: 13, jewelry: 9, cosmetics: 7, IT services: 5, herbal: 5, electronics: 3, and furniture: 3.
In addition, there are 11 stalls from other sectors.
Fifteen other government organizations, including 8 organizations under the Ministry of Industries, and about 30 banks and financial institutions are participating in the fair.
The main sponsor is City Bank; Brac Bank, Eastern Bank, Bank Asia, IDLC, LankaBangla, United Finance and IPDC are also sponsors.
Workshops, training and banker-entrepreneur connection programs will be held every day at the fair. Entrepreneurs can directly discuss with bankers and get necessary information and apply for loans from the fair itself.
6 seminars will be held on the skills, export potential and product quality improvement of participating entrepreneurs at the fair. These include—
- ‘Automated Innovation: Shaping up the CMSME journey’—December 8 at 10:30 am; Chief Guest ICT Secretary Sheesh Haider Chowdhury, NDC
- ‘Role of Women Entrepreneurs in Export Diversification’—December 8 at 3 pm (The schedule of the other 4 seminars will be held similarly)
Visitors can enjoy the fair without any entry fee from December 7-14 from 10 am to 9 pm every day. Display of foreign/imported products is prohibited.
