DHAKA, Dec 28, 2021 (BSS) - Standard Chartered and Women Entrepreneurs 
Association of Bangladesh (WEAB) have announced a partnership today to 
jointly facilitate access to financial services for women entrepreneurs in 
Bangladesh. 

  A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Salma Masud, President, 
WEAB and Sabbir Ahmed, Head, Consumer, Private and Business Banking, Standard 
Chartered Bangladesh to mark the collaboration, said a press release. 

  Under the partnership, WEAB and Standard Chartered will collaborate to 
ensure WEAB members get better access to finance. The partnership will also 
extend to knowledge exchange on financial services, consultation support and 
organizing training sessions for women entrepreneurs. 

  Salma Masud, president of WEAB said, "WEAB has been a key contributor of 
women entrepreneurship development in Bangladesh for more than 20 years, and 
we are delighted to partner with Standard Chartered to empower our members 
with better access to finance." 

  Sabbir Ahmed, Head, Consumer, Private and Business Banking, Standard 
Chartered Bangladesh said, "We are proud to partner with WEAB for improving 
access to finance for women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh." 

  He said, "WEABs experience and network with women entrepreneurs will 
significantly complement Standard Chartered's global strategy for increasing 
participation in Women Entrepreneur financing". 

  Bitopi Das Chowdhury, Head, Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing, 
Standard Chartered Bangladesh said, "We hope this partnership will gradually 
expand further, complementing our key global strategy for lifting 
participation in our key markets by unleashing the full potential of women 
entrepreneurs".

  Sabbir Ahmed, Head, Consumer, Private and Business Banking and Ms Bitopi 
Das Chowdhury, Head, Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing, representing 
Standard Chartered Bangladesh and Ms. Salma Masud, President, WEAB, along 
with other high officials from both organisations were present on the 
occasion.

  WEAB has been a renowned patron of Women Entrepreneurs in Bangladesh since 
its establishment in 2000. At present, WEAB has 5,000 members all across 
Bangladesh. WEAB has been a strong community voice, lobbying for micro to 
macro women entrepreneurs to assist their growth and to improve their social 
and economic prospects. 

  With over 116 years of presence in Bangladesh, Standard Chartered is the 
only bank in the country with a unique blend of deep-rooted local presence 
and capacity to capitalise on its global network and product coverage. The 
partnership leverage Standard Chartered's banking networks both at home and 
abroad to purposefully connect SMEs with broader local and international 
markets.