WEAB, StanChart announce partnership to ensure finance for women entrepreneurs
Standard Chartered and Women
Entrepreneurs Association of Bangladesh (WEAB) have announced a partnership
today to jointly facilitate access to financial services for women
entrepreneurs in Bangladesh.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
was signed by Salma Masud, President, WEAB and Sabbir Ahmed, Head, Consumer,
Private and Business Banking, Standard Chartered Bangladesh to mark the collaboration,
said a press release.
Under the partnership, WEAB and
Standard Chartered will collaborate to ensure WEAB members get better access to
finance. The partnership will also extend to knowledge exchange on financial
services, consultation support and organizing training sessions for women
entrepreneurs.
Salma Masud, president of WEAB said,
"WEAB has been a key contributor of women entrepreneurship development in
Bangladesh for more than 20 years, and we are delighted to partner with Standard
Chartered to empower our members with better access to finance."
Sabbir Ahmed, Head, Consumer,
Private and Business Banking, Standard Chartered Bangladesh said, "We are
proud to partner with WEAB for improving access to finance for women
entrepreneurs in Bangladesh."
He said, "WEABs experience and
network with women entrepreneurs will significantly complement Standard
Chartered's global strategy for increasing participation in Women Entrepreneur
financing".
Bitopi Das Chowdhury, Head,
Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing, Standard Chartered Bangladesh said,
"We hope this partnership will gradually expand further, complementing our
key global strategy for lifting participation in our key markets by unleashing
the full potential of women entrepreneurs".
Sabbir Ahmed, Head, Consumer,
Private and Business Banking and Ms Bitopi Das Chowdhury, Head, Corporate
Affairs, Brand & Marketing, representing Standard Chartered Bangladesh and
Ms. Salma Masud, President, WEAB, along with other high officials from both
organisations were present on the occasion.
WEAB has been a renowned patron of
Women Entrepreneurs in Bangladesh since its establishment in 2000. At present,
WEAB has 5,000 members all across Bangladesh. WEAB has been a strong community
voice, lobbying for micro to macro women entrepreneurs to assist their growth
and to improve their social and economic prospects.
With over 116 years of presence in
Bangladesh, Standard Chartered is the only bank in the country with a unique
blend of deep-rooted local presence and capacity to capitalise on its global
network and product coverage. The partnership leverage Standard Chartered's
banking networks both at home and abroad to purposefully connect SMEs with
broader local and international markets.
Source: Bss