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Govt wants creative economy to reach 3pc of GDP: Khosru
Published : Monday, 7 September, 2026 at 3:41 PM
Observer online report
The government wants to raise the contribution of Bangladesh’s creative economy to 2-3 per cent of GDP, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said on Monday.
Speaking at a programme organised by Karmasangsthan Bank at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka, Khosru said achieving the target would bring a large number of people into the sector, particularly women.
He said Bangladesh has significant potential in food, music, culture, theatre, film and online creative work, and these sectors should be developed for global markets.
Khosru stressed the need to turn rural songs, food and cultural products into marketable goods and services. Many creative activities in rural areas, he said, have yet to be properly monetised and need support in areas such as skills development, design, branding and marketing.
Citing Thailand’s “One Village, One Product” initiative, he said government support for raw materials, skills, design and branding could help Bangladeshi rural producers develop products suitable for international markets.
The minister also highlighted the potential of freelancers and ICT professionals, saying their creative work should be developed into products and services suitable for domestic and international markets.
He urged Karmasangsthan Bank to provide financing not only to conventional entrepreneurs but also to people working in music, culture and other creative sectors.
Khosru said the bank had already helped create employment for around 1.3 million people and expressed hope that new programmes would create another 900,000 jobs.
He also stressed the importance of supporting small and cottage industries alongside large industries and projects, saying these sectors could create employment for a large number of people.
The minister said financing alone was not enough and entrepreneurs also needed support with skills, design, branding and marketing to make their products competitive in national and international markets.
At the programme, officials said loans under a pilot fund for small businesses and entrepreneurs would be offered at interest rates of 5-6 per cent, compared with much higher rates in conventional microfinance.
The pilot project has an allocation of Tk 35 crore and will initially be implemented in three districts before being expanded to other parts of the country.
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
