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| Business Enabling Environment |
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Business Enabling Environment
The Business Enabling Environment (BEE) program of SEDF
assist in promoting
a macro-conducive environment for SMEs in this region. The program approach is top-down, where constraints
are identified through various studies such as the Investment Climate Assessment and Doing Business.
Interventions are then undertaken to address these constraints.
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BEE work is cross-cutting, encompassing trade, gender, access to finance and sector development
and business services, as well as regulatory policy issues. Currently, the BEE team is involved
in the following areas:
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Trade: In order to facilitate intra-regional and extra-regional trade, the BEE team is addressing Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) and trade financing issues between Bangladesh and NEI. BEE also helps in organizing trade shows and collaborative programs to promote exports.
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Policy and Regulation: The BEE team develops interventions to improve the policy and regulatory framework of the region. For example, a series of BEE company registration projects has successfully reduced the required time for company registration from 30 to 16 days at the Office of the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms in Bangladesh.
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Knowledge Centers: BEE also provides enterprises with information and tools to help them grow and has set up several Knowledge Centers to facilitate this. Knowledge Centers are one-stop information facilities operated in collaboration with local chambers and business associations.
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Gender Development and BMO: The BEE program aims to improve participation of women as workers, managers and owners of SMEs. BEE interventions have led to a three-fold increase in service delivery to women entrepreneurs with the help of business associations. Gender development and promotion of women Business Membership Organizations have, for example, led to a sales increase of US$ 1.5 million in women-owned SMEs in Bangladesh.
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Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): BEE supports training programs on CSR issues. The BEE program also aims to introduce the notion of CSR into standard practice across SMEs in this region.
Investment Climate Assessments
SEDF is continuing and expanding its work on Investment Climate Assessments, with a focus on analytical and diagnostic work. ICA work analyzes the investment climates and elements of the business environments in the various existing SEDF target economies
BEE works with various partners to maximize impact by capitalizing on synergies. BEE works directly with government agencies, ministries and other key stakeholders. |
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