The National SME Product Fair has begun in Dhaka, bringing together more than three hundred fifty small and medium enterprises from across Bangladesh. The eight day exhibition opened at the Bangladesh China Friendship Exhibition Center in Sher e Bangla Nagar as part of the twelfth edition of the national fair. Each day, the fair will remain open to visitors from ten in the morning to nine at night.
As in previous years, the opening ceremony featured the National SME Entrepreneur Awards, which recognise outstanding contributions in export growth, investment, employment generation, and innovation. This year, five entrepreneurs and one startup received awards across micro, small, medium, and startup categories.
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In the Micro Entrepreneur Women category, the award went to Juyena Ferdous, owner of Ahlad Fashions. Her company exports jute bags, home decor, and handicraft products to five countries including the United States and the Netherlands. The enterprise employs fifteen full time staff and more than eighty rural women artisans.
In the Micro Entrepreneur Men category, the winner was Wahiduzzaman, owner of the cosmetics brand Ribana. His company produces skincare products using natural ingredients such as goat milk, neem, and nuts. Since 2021, Ribana has been exporting to Australia and the United States through the ecommerce platform Amazon.
In the Small Entrepreneur Women category, the award went to Sutar Kabbo, led by proprietor Sirajum Munira. The business exports nakshi kantha, rugs, jute mats, table runners, and other handcrafted items to various countries in Europe and Asia. In the Small Entrepreneur Men category, Aman Plastic Toys Industries received the award. The company started a decade ago with ninety three thousand taka and four employees and now employs one hundred eighteen staff. Its toys are exported to Saudi Arabia, Italy, Sri Lanka, and several African countries.
In the Medium Entrepreneur Men category, the award was given to Aporajeyo, owned by Kazi Monir Hossain. The business manufactures bags and other products using jute, hogla leaves, sea grass, and kaisa grass. In the last financial year, the company exported goods worth two million United States dollars to sixteen countries.
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The award in the Startup category went to Dubotech Digital, an underwater robotics research team. The startup gained international recognition by becoming world runner up in RoboSub, a leading global underwater robotics competition. Industry Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan presented the awards to the winners. The ceremony was also attended by BIDA Executive Chairman Ashiq Chowdhury, City Bank Managing Director Masrur Arefin, WEAB representative Nasreen Fatema Auwal, SME Foundation Chairman Musfiquar Rahman, and Managing Director Anwar Hossain Chowdhury. Organisers said the fair will continue until fourteen December and will remain open to all visitors throughout the week.