Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury -File photo

DHAKA, Sept 7, 2026 (BSS) - Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury today called for bringing talented people in the country's creative economy under loan facilities to help turn their potential into entrepreneurship.

"Alongside conventional enterprises, creative talents should also be brought under the financing facility. The government will make arrangements for providing them with the necessary additional support," he said.

The minister was speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the Small Business and Micro Enterprise Financing Fund organised by Karmasangsthan Bank at Osmani Memorial Auditorium here.

The minister said financing should not be confined to conventional small businesses or poultry and agriculture-based enterprises. 

Entrepreneurs involved in music, films, theatre and traditional handicrafts should also be provided with loans, skills development, modern design, branding and market-linkage support, he added.

"Many educated and creative people in the country cannot utilise their talents because of financial constraints. Their access to the banking system is also limited," he said.

Amir Khosru said one of the major objectives of such financing programmes should be to take funding opportunities to these talented people and create entrepreneurs.

He said creative activities contribute around 10 percent to the economies of some countries, while Bangladesh has set a target of raising the contribution of its creative economy to at least 3 percent.

The minister also highlighted the importance of developing the rural economy by supporting people engaged in traditional occupations.

"Families involved in weaving, brassware, pottery and other traditional professions have been carrying on these occupations for generations. If they are provided with skills development, modern designs, quality raw materials, branding and marketing support, the value of their products can increase manifold," he said.

He said a product worth Tk 100 could be sold for Tk 200 to Tk 300 through improved design and quality.

Amir Khosru also stressed the importance of using online international marketplaces to take Bangladeshi traditional and creative products to consumers in different countries.

He said providing loans alone would not be sufficient for entrepreneurs in micro, small and cottage industries.

"They have to be identified and provided with an integrated package of training, skills development, design, branding and marketing support," he said.

The minister said loan financing also creates a sense of responsibility among entrepreneurs as they have to repay the money along with the associated cost or interest.

"Because there is a cost involved with loan money, entrepreneurs have an incentive and responsibility to make their investments successful. On the other hand, grant money provided without any cost is not always utilised in the desired manner," he said.

He said financing programmes have already created employment opportunities for around 1.3 million people, while another 900,000 jobs are expected to be created, taking the total employment opportunities to around 2.2 million.

Karmasangsthan Bank Chairman Dr AFM Matiur Rahman presided over the programme.

Prime Minister's Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, Finance Division Secretary Dr Md Khairuzzaman Mojumder and Financial Institutions Division Secretary Nazma Mubarek, among others, addressed the event.