Dhaka, June 25 (V7N) – Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs have urged the government and financial institutions to implement the 2023 law that allows moveable assets to be accepted as collateral for bank loans. They made the demand on Tuesday during a workshop jointly organized by the SME Foundation and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

The workshop was chaired by IFC Country Manager Martin Holtmann, with SME Foundation Chairperson Md. Musfiqur Rahman attending as chief guest. Other key speakers included SME Foundation Managing Director Anwar Hossain Chowdhury, Deputy Managing Director Md. Nazim Hasan Sattar, Additional Secretary of the Financial Institutions Division Azimuddin Biswas, and Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank, Nurun Nahar.

Participants noted that despite the enactment of the relevant law in 2023, it has yet to be fully implemented by banks and financial institutions. As a result, SME owners—many of whom lack immovable assets like land or buildings—continue to face significant obstacles in accessing formal credit. They stressed that allowing moveable assets such as machinery, inventory, or receivables to serve as collateral would unlock vital capital for SME growth and stimulate broader economic development.

Speakers also highlighted the critical role SMEs play in job creation, innovation, and inclusive economic progress. They called for stronger policy coordination, awareness campaigns, and capacity-building programs to ensure the effective operationalization of the moveable collateral framework.

The event brought together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors, including financial regulators, development partners, and SME representatives, all of whom emphasized the need for reform in credit practices to create a more inclusive financial system in Bangladesh.

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