Industries adviser Adilur Rahman Khan. File photo

DHAKA, Sept 09, 2025 (BSS) – Industries adviser Adilur Rahman Khan today said the small and medium enterprises (SME) contributions to GDP stood at 30 percent while they generated 85 percent employment in the country.

“Their (SMEs) contribution to GDP is 30 percent while they are generating 85 percent of the employment,” he told the closing ceremony of a two-day Buyer-Seller Summit at Agargaon.

The SME Foundation, with support from the World Bank, staged the two-day event at the Institute of Architects Bangladesh at Agargaon.

Khan expected the event to help connect entrepreneurs at grassroots with buyers, expand markets and flourish the enterprises through mentoring by the foundation, which he said, was framing policies, training and assisting entrepreneurs, developing technologies, expanding markets and patronizing women entrepreneurs.

A total of 46 women-led enterprises and 17 SME clusters showcased their products to commercial buyers, institutions, and established businesses.

The participants represent different sectors, including leather, light engineering, handloom, hosiery, fashion and home textiles, nakshi kantha (embroidered quilts), wood and bamboo-cane products, pottery, and jewelry.

Some 50 chain buyer houses also took part in the buyer-seller 2025 summit.
SME Foundation chairman M Musfiqur Rahman, World Bank Group Division Director Jean Pesme and senior private sector specialist Hosna Ferdousi Sumi were present at the event where the foundation’s managing director Anwar Hossain delivered the welcome speech.