Encouraging the country’s young and new entrepreneurs, chief adviser professor Muhammad Yunus on Saturday said that they wanted to make sure that new entrepreneurs did not face any problems with their investments and could work safely to significantly contribute to Bangladesh’s economic growth.
‘I learned a lot from your discussions and suggestions today [Saturday]. We want to build poverty-free Bangladesh,’ he said, adding that he got ideas about the future path from the discussions. ‘Please stay in touch with us.’
Yunus held a meeting with young entrepreneurs at the state guest house Jamuna where15 male and female entrepreneurs participated.
The entrepreneurs shared the stories of their struggle to become financially independent and sought advice from the chief adviser on various issues relevant to their journey ahead.
Thanking Yunus, the entrepreneurs described how the investment received from the Grameen Telecom Trust, formed in 2010 to promote social business, helped the entrepreneurs to become financially independent from zero.
Most of the entrepreneurs who participated in the meeting are doing business with investments from the Grameen Telecom Trust and Grameen Trust, according to the chief adviser’s press wing.
Some of them have received investments for the sixth and fifth time. Yunus was excited to hear the stories of the entrepreneurs’ struggles and wanted to know what further steps could be taken for the entrepreneurs.
‘Your life stories are very inspiring. I am very happy to meet you. You have shared many good things. Tell us what else would be good for entrepreneurs,’ said the chief adviser.
At the meeting, the entrepreneurs suggested increasing the publicity of the Grameen Telecom Trust and Grameen Trust’s programmes for young entrepreneurs to promote social business.
The entrepreneurs said that most people did not know about these initiatives and many poor people would benefit if the publicity was increased.
They also urged Yunus to provide appropriate training to entrepreneurs in addition to investing in them.
They said that many could not grow their businesses due to lack of skills. ‘If appropriate workshops can be organised, more skilled and successful entrepreneurs will be developed in each district.’
Principal coordinator for SDGs affairs Lamiya Morshed, managing director of Grameen Trust Tasmina Rahman and managing director and CEO of Grameen Telecom Trust Ashraful Hasan were, among others, present.