Eastern Bank hosts entrepreneur development training under SICIP

Eastern Bank PLC (EBL) has launched a month-long “Entrepreneur Development Training” programme as part of its ongoing efforts to support entrepreneurship in Bangladesh.

The programme is being implemented under the Skills for Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Program (SICIP), led by the Ministry of Finance and Bangladesh Bank, according to a press release.

Under the programme, financed by the Asian Development Bank, trainee and trainer selection was carried out through transparent and structured processes by the trainee selection committee and the trainer selection committee.

Husne Ara Shikha, executive director of Bangladesh Bank, inaugurated the programme as the chief guest at EBL’s head office in Gulshan, Dhaka yesterday.

In her address, Shikha highlighted the importance of developing skilled, innovative and ethical entrepreneurs to ensure sustainable economic growth in Bangladesh.

She encouraged participants to focus on identifying diversified business opportunities, generating new ideas, practising good governance and acquiring modern entrepreneurial skills.

Speaking on the occasion, Ali Reza Iftekhar, managing director of Eastern Bank PLC, said that sound planning, innovation, financial discipline and integrity are the cornerstones of business success.

“Eastern Bank believes that programmes like this play a vital role in developing entrepreneurs and building a sustainable SME sector,” he said while presiding over the event.

M Khorshed Anowar, deputy managing director of EBL; Md Nazrul Islam, programme director of SICIP; and Md Ayub Ali, deputy programme director, along with other senior officials of Eastern Bank and 25 selected entrepreneurs for the programme, were also present.