Solaimane Coulibaly, Acting Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan of the World Bank, expressed hope that Bangladesh will become an upper-middle-income country by 2041. He said, ‘Bangladesh is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. I strongly believe that the country is on the right track to become an upper-middle income country by 2041, as Bangladesh has maintained its economic growth despite the coronavirus pandemic.’
The Acting Country Director of the World Bank said this in the speech of the guest of honor at an exchange meeting titled ‘Development of Small Enterprises in Bangladesh: Prospective RAICE Project’ organized by Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) in Dhaka on Tuesday (September 5). PKSF Chairman Dr. Kazi Khalikuzzaman Ahmed presided over the event, as did PKSA’s managing director, Dr. Namita Halder.
Dr. Kazi Khalikuzzaman Ahmad said, ‘In order for Bangladesh to take demographic opportunities, it is important to invest in small enterprises. Microenterprise development requires implementation of financial services as well as non-financial services such as capacity building activities.’
PKSF is working tirelessly to improve the fortunes of backward communities. Namita Halder said, ‘RAICE project is working to improve the overall quality of life of the backward people, especially the youth by increasing their capacity.’
Additional Managing Director of PKSF in the presentation on ‘Development of Small Enterprises in Bangladesh: Possibilities and Challenges’. Fazlul Quader highlighted the role of various activities and projects of PKSF in the development of domestic small enterprises. In addition, project coordinator Dilip Kumar Chakraborty presented articles on various aspects of RAICE project. The former professor of Dhaka University MA Baki Khalili discussed about it.
At the event, some participants of the RAICE project at the grassroots level narrated their experiences. Besides, the officials of PKSF and its affiliates and representatives of the World Bank participated in the event.
The RAICE project was launched in February 2022 jointly funded by PKSF and the World Bank to develop human capacity in small scale enterprises. The project is being implemented in the cities and suburbs of 333 upazilas of 64 districts of the country through 70 subsidiary organizations.
