BWCCI hails allocation of 100 cr. taka for women entrepreneurs in national budget 2012-13

Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BWCCI) congratulates the Government and the Finance Minister for allocating 100 crores taka as grant for women entrepreneurs in the national budget 2012-13. We believe the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2012-13 announced by the Honorable Finance Minister on 7 June, 2012 at the parliament will accelerate the development of our country. The endeavor taken by the Govt. as per the proposal of BWCCI has made us more hopeful as an organization representing women entrepreneurs. We believe that women will be more empowered and women entrepreneurs will contribute more to the overall development initiative of the country.

In addition to allocating 100 crores taka, Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry recommends the followings also to be incorporated in the revised budget 2012-13:

 - Introducing tax-free income limit to Tk. 3,000,000 for women

 -15% reserved quota in the Equity and Entrepreneurship Fund (EEF)

 - Introducing separate Women entrepreneurship development policy

 - Reserved quota in economic zone and industrial parks for women entrepreneurs

Tk 10cr for climate-hit micro women entrepreneurs urged by BWCCI Chief

Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI) has demanded an allocation of Tk 10 crore for micro women entrepreneurs in disaster prone areas. BWCCI President Selima Ahmad at a seminar on 22 March 2012, Thursday said at the city's CIRDAP auditorium that due to climate change, women and children are the most affected so initiatives should be taken by the government to take more projects where women entrepreneurship can be explored and undertake projects to build their climate resilient capacities, create market linkages for them so that they can continue their economic activities by adapting climate change. BWCCI in cooperation with Foreign and Commonwealth, UK organized the seminar under the title of ’’Climate Resilient Initiatives for Rural Women Entrepreneurs'. 

Environment and Forests Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud MP was the chief guest of the seminar while Selima Ahmad was in the chair. Various stakeholders working for women development including representatives from NGO's, women activists, journalists, general members and directors of BWCCI participated in the event.

Dr. Hasan said that Bangladesh is the first country to take a comprehensive strategy and action plan for climate change. He said that to fight with climate change proper understanding of the political leaders, proper understanding of CSOs, proper understanding of Women and children are extremely needed. He appreciated BWCCI’s initiative saying that this organization has actually gone out to the affected areas and extended their support to the vulnerable women groups there. He ensured his support to BWCCI’s climate resilient initiatives.

Selima Ahmad requested all to work towards integrating those measures into development cooperation climate projects that go beyond direct climate related aspects.