On 23 September 2020, SNV and ICCO Cooperation are supporting the Dutch-Bangla Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DBCCI) in the organisation of a seminar on investment in inclusive business taking place in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The seminar aims to facilitate a knowledge-based discussion and collaboration among business entities, investors, and innovators in inclusive business (IB).

SNV in Bangladesh and DBCCI are also hosting the fourth International Conference on Inclusive Business taking place on 24 September 2020 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, under the theme “Inclusive investment for tackling poverty”.

About the seminar

The seminar will see the participation of Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Hon'ble Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation as chief guest; H.E. Harry Verweij, Ambassador of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands as guest of honour; and Mr. Sheikh Fazle Fahim, FBCCI President as the special guest.

Objectives of the seminar:

• Discuss potential and emerging inclusive business options to improve health, food, nutrition, energy, water & sanitation of low-income group for social impact.

• Enable investors to understand the diversity of financing opportunities for these business models and their respective financing needs.

• Discuss potential opportunities for impact investment.

• Create an enabling platform for investors and inclusive businesses to interact and maximise opportunities for engagement.

About the conference

This year's conference aims to find efficient and financially sustainable solutions to fight poverty by using market mechanisms through investment modality of inclusive business and to channel future trends of business for the good of lower-income-to-zero income communities. The conference will not outline challenges but focus on sustainable business solutions in tackling poverty, best practices, new models, innovations, and mindsets, and establish a linkage between corporate and social enterprises.

The very first IB conference was first held in Bangladesh in 2016 with the joint effort from SNV, UNDP, BFP and BCTA. Starting from 2018, the conference is organised on a yearly base by SNV and DBCCI.

We firmly believe that new challenges foresee new opportunities, and we are confident and well prepared to pick up the threads and host 4th edition of the IB conference in person.

In Bangladesh, the private sector is progressively realizing the potentials of the Inclusive Business concepts for a sustainable growth. SNV Netherlands Development Organisation has been incorporating the Inclusive Business models in the Ready-made Garment (RMG) sector since 2014 to improve the health and wellbeing of the workers, with a particular focus on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.

This International Conference on Inclusive Business is intending to create new business ecosystems that will deliver value to all, support inclusive growth and manifest the effects of successful public-private partnerships for improving socio-economic conditions.

Begum Monnujan Sufian, MP, the Hon'ble State Minister, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Bangladesh has given her kind consent to attend the inaugural session as the Chief Guest. Ms Sultana Afroz, CEO (Secretary), Public-Private Partnership Authority, Prime Minister's Office, Government of Bangladesh will attend the program as the special guest. H.E. Harry Verweij, Ambassador, Embassy of Kingdom of Netherlands will be the Guest of Honour.

You can watch live the full conference via https://www.facebook.com/SNVBangladesh