New Age | Technology key to unlocking SME potential
New Age | Technology key to unlocking SME potential
https://www.newagebd.net/post/new-age-specials/304143/technology-key-to-unlocking-sme-potential
Publish Date: 2026-06-27 11:26:00
Source Domain: www.newagebd.net
Anwar Hossain Chowdhury.
Bangladesh’s small and medium enterprise sector must rapidly adopt digital technologies, artificial intelligence and Fourth Industrial Revolution tools to become more productive, competitive and capable of creating jobs on a scale, SME Foundation managing director Anwar Hossain Chowdhury said.
In an interview with New Age, Anwar said that technology-led transformation, easier access to finance, improved market connectivity and decentralised institutional support would determine whether the country’s SME sector could realise its full economic potential.
‘Rapid technological advancement is fundamentally transforming global trade and commerce. Technology adoption is no longer optional for SMEs; it is essential’, Chowdhury said.
The government has already placed significant emphasis on technology-driven and innovation-based entrepreneurship in its FY2026-27 budget and policy priorities, he said, adding that the SME Foundation was aligning its programmes accordingly.
The SME Foundation was actively encouraging entrepreneurs to embrace digital transformation and AI-based solutions for their development in line with global trends, he added.
‘We are conducting various training programmes on digital transformation, AI and emerging technologies. Our goal is to ensure that entrepreneurs in rural and remote areas are not left behind. Technology adoption must be inclusive,’ he said.
According to SME Foundation Highlights 2026, micro, small and medium enterprises account for 99.92 per cent of all enterprises in Bangladesh, contribute 30.4 per cent to the sector’s overall GDP growth and create employment opportunities for 85 per cent of the…
