Prime Bank Limited and Grameenphone have partnered to enable SMEs with financial and connectivity solutions.
The partnership declaration came at a webinar, organized by Prime Bank Ltd on Wednesday while Md Zahid Ahsan Russel, MP, State Minister for Youth and Sports, was present as the chief guest.
Rahel Ahmed, Managing Director and CEO of Prime Bank; Yasir Azman, CEO of Grameenphone; Syed M Omar Tayub, Head of MSME Banking, Prime Bank; and Kazi Mahboob Hassan, Chief Business Officer of Grameenphone, were also present.
Khairul Basher, Head of Communications of Grameenphone, moderated the session.
The partnership will enable the SME organizations to digitize and enhance efficiency with Grameenphone's ICT Solutions to address the need for better access to financial support, ICT solutions, promotional support, and a wide range of services; latest ICT (Information and Communications Technology), and IoT (Internet of Things), access to SAAS marketplace to modernize POS Billing software; stock, inventory, and sales management system; accounting management, human resource, and accounting solutions, etc.
Furthermore, to address the need to make the SME organizations more productive and efficient, Grameenphone also provides various other solutions like sales force tracking, vehicle tracking services, M-Centrex call center solutions, smart attendance, and audio-video conferencing solutions with discounted benefits. To enhance the SME organizations' sales, the company is also providing promotional and communication products and services like bulk SMS Solutions.
Md Zahid Ahsan Russel, MP, State Minister for Youth and Sports, said, "Our Honourable Prime Minister is working leaders of each sector rigorously to develop strategies to fight this setback. As a result, our Ministry has initiated multiple projects to distribute SME loans and promote the youth's capacity building in 64 districts. The Ministry sets up a virtual training center, arranging training, generating employment in the rural areas for returnee migrant workers to stand beside the youth amid this pandemic. We appreciate the worthwhile initiative of Grameenphone and Prime Bank to assist the SMEs through financing and connectivity solutions. With a strong network of Grameenphone and financing solutions of Prime Bank, this partnership will help the SMEs make a comeback from losses due to Coronavirus. The Ministry wants to work with Grameenphone and Prime Bank to empower the SMEs and the country's youth. We believe our collective efforts will take us to the path of recovery and resilience."
On this occasion, Yasir Azman, CEO of Grameenphone, said, "Connectivity and youths have a more significant role in unleashing the potential of a digital Bangladesh. I firmly believe this partnership will contribute significantly to SMEs' modernization and help overcome the socio-economic dent caused by C19. It is high time that we provide our expertise so that these SMEs can unlock their full potential and boost the economy's growth in the future. Hence, we are pleased to collaborate with Prime Bank Limited to provide simplified solutions to the SMEs."
Commenting on the partnership, Prime Bank MD and CEO Rahel Ahmed said: "MSME sector is the lifeblood of Bangladesh economy contributing more than 25% to the country's GDP. We are convinced that a partnership like this unique one with the country's top telecom company, Grameenphone, will help put MSMEs on strong footing and lead to the path of sustainable growth. The stakeholders of different sectors have to join hands in building a conducive ecosystem for small enterprises and ensuring easy access to loans, especially at this challenging time. We are happy to launch this alliance with Grameenphone, which we believe will go a long way to take the MSME sector to next level of development."
Under the arrangement, the Grameenphone SME customers will get working capital (CC, OD and Demand Loan), Term Loans for Fixed Asset Purchase and Capital expenditures, International Trade solution- LC, LATR, IDBP etc., Bank Guarantee, Work Order etc. They can also avail a wide range of deposit products and free Internet Banking – ALTITUDE - for conducting broad range of e-transaction. The SME customers of Grameenphone can apply for loan from the comfort of their office or home as Prime Bank has assigned dedicated Relationship Manager. The MSME customers of Prime Bank will also enjoy exclusive benefits for Grameenphone connection and value-added services.
-rmc/