iDE Bangladesh showcases market-based innovations at private sector meet

iDE Bangladesh organised a private sector meet at Sheraton Dhaka, bringing together current and prospective private sector partners to showcase market-based innovations and explore opportunities for collaboration, investment and business growth.

The event featured 17 showcase stalls displaying products, prototypes, technologies and services from iDE Bangladesh’s private sector partners, including Grameen Danone Foods Limited, ATEC, CPIL, Abedin Equipment Limited, Bayer CropScience Limited Bangladesh, TMSS, SARPV, RFL, SafePad Bangladesh, Metal, East West University, ACI PLC, Lal Teer Seed Ltd, Rural Sun Power, NRBC Bank PLC and SMC. The showcase highlighted solutions across agriculture, WASH, renewable energy, nutrition and climate-smart sectors, says a press release.
 
iDE Global CEO Reed Andrew Peterson highlighted the organisation’s market-based approach, stressing that low-income communities are not just aid recipients but also customers, producers and entrepreneurs. Drawing on his recent Cox’s Bazar visit, he explained how iDE helps businesses reach underserved markets through product adaptation, last-mile distribution and shared investment, supporting sustainable growth and its goal of empowering 1 million entrepreneurs by 2035.

iDE Bangladesh Country Director Sameer Karki highlighted how private sector partners can address community challenges by reaching low-income and rural customers with suitable products and services. He also outlined opportunities for joint ventures, co-investment and product innovation under iDE Bangladesh’s Private Sector Engagement Strategy, supporting iDE’s global goal.

The programme also featured speeches from private sector leaders, including Tajwar M Awal, Director, Lal Teer Seed; Toslim Uddin, Managing Director, SMC; Sukanto Das, Chief Operating Officer, RFL; Tahmid K. Chowdhury, Managing Director, SafePad Bangladesh; Dr. Md. Touhidul Alam Khan, Managing Director, NRBC Bank PLC; Rajaul Karim, Country Lead-Field Solutions and CropScience R&D, Bayer CropScience Limited; Taslim Uddin, Managing Director, SMC; Md. Sadid Jamil, Managing Director, TML, Md. Amir Hossain, Abedin Equipment Limited; and, Md. Nazmul Hasan, RSP, who shared perspectives on private sector engagement and market development.

iDE is a global non-profit organisation that creates livelihood opportunities for people living in poverty through market-based approaches. In Bangladesh, it works with businesses, entrepreneurs and development partners to connect underserved communities with products, services and economic opportunities.