The role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is indispensable for overall economic development of a country particularly for developing countries like Bangladesh. Since this sector is labor intensive with short gestation period, it is capable of increasing national income as well as rapid employment generation; achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) especially eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, gender equality and women empowerment. SME sector has played a vital role in economic development of some prosperous countries of Asia. Our neighbouring countries have also given due importance on SME. Terming SME as ‘employment generating machine’ they stressed on SME development for higher economic growth, narrowing the gap of income inequality and poverty alleviation. The present government has also put much emphasis on the development of SME sector considering it as ‘the driving force for industrialization’.
Definition
of Small Enterprise:
Small
Enterprise refers to the firm/business which is not a public limited company
and complies the following criteria:
|
Serial No. |
Sector |
Fixed Asset other than Land and Building (Tk.) |
Employed Manpower (not above) |
|
1 |
Service |
50,000-50,00,000 |
25 |
|
2 |
Business |
50,000-50,00,000 |
25 |
|
3 |
Industrial |
50000-15000000 |
50 |
Medium
Enterprise refers to the establishment/firm which is not a public limited company
and complies the following criteria:
|
Serial No. |
Sector |
Fixed Asset other than Land and Building (Tk.) |
Employed Manpower (not above) |
|
1 |
Service |
50,00000-10,00,00000 |
50 |
|
2 |
Business |
50,00000-100,00,0000 |
50 |
|
3 |
Industrial |
15000000-200000000 |
150 |