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SMALL and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the entire industry of any nation. In fact, even before the emergence of the modern-day large scale industrial enterprises, it was the SMEs that dominated the economic scene in almost every industrial nation. But that does not also imply that SMEs have been serving only as a historical necessity of society and that they have now outlived their time of necessity. The SMEs still play a very significant role in any economy, let alone in that of Bangladesh, which is yet to grow into a full-fledged industrial economy.
The case for small and medium enterprises has long been on the national agenda of priorities. But nothing substantial has so far been done to address the problems facing the SMEs. Proper identification of the existing as well as the emerging SMEs is the first task before devising a comprehensive policy to address their needs. It is only after performing this initial task correctly that one can have a proper assessment of the scale and size of the SME sector and its total contribution to the economy. There is another aspect of the SMEs that has to be taken into account while framing any policy and strategy in order to help and develop them. This is about the varied and disparate nature of the economic activities that fall under the category of the SMEs. Those are also dispersed geographically all over the country. This is a problem that comes not only in the way of assessing and locating the SMEs. This is also a problem of enhancing the accessibility of the SMEs to resources of the state through which they can be benefited.
To get over these difficulties the incumbent government has taken some very commendable steps. Identifying SMEs as a priority sector in the newly formed industrial policy 2005, formation of an SME Cell to devise a policy and strategy to expand this vital sector, etc., are some of those steps the minister concerned of the government had declared at the recently launched SME fair in the city. Meanwhile, the industry ministry has already formed an SME-panel with representatives from the stakeholders in the private sector. The panel so formed will assist the government in implementing the recommendations made by the SME Task Force. These certainly speak of a very positive step towards the development and growth of the SMEs. The prime minister, too, while addressing the SME fair recently stressed that quality of the products and services delivered by SMEs were very important considerations for their proper marketing. However, she assured the SMEs that the nationalised commercial banks had been instructed to intensify their credit programmes for the small and medium enterprises. In addition to these, the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), too, will be reorganised to provide training to entrepreneurs in the SME sector. The activities of the BSCIC and the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) will also be coordinated to boost export of the products of this sector.
These are all about the supports and assistance that the government is willing to extend to the cause of the SMEs' development. But the fact remains that the government resources on offer could be put to good use by the intended beneficiaries only when the latter are able to devise a mechanism to access it by themselves. But the SMEs here are yet to develop their own forum to be able to voice their exact needs and have access to the state's resources. It is worthwhile to note here that no government will ever ignore the problems and needs of any particular sector, once those come to the full view of the authorities concerned. So is it now the case with government's present emphasis on the SMEs.
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