Female entrepreneurs face challenges to grow business

With a commitment to establish a self-identity in society through innovation, talent and hard work, many educated women are launching their business enterprises to become successful entrepreneurs in the ICT sector, reports the BSS.

 

But country's most promising womenfolk are facing harsh reality due to patriarchal mindset and conservative family and social values to grow their enterprises.

 

Farhana A Rahman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairperson of UY Systems Ltd, said, "I officially started my business in IT sector in 2005. But groundwork of my IT business began in 1998. In that time, I was educated in IT to become a successful entrepreneur." She said, "Initial journey of my business was not easy. I had to face many difficulties to run my business."

 

"I have struggled to get market access of my product domestically because I was a woman. Local buyers lack confidence in women entrepreneurs. They possess negative attitude towards women," Farhana added.

 

"But I did not lose my hope...I got very positive response from foreign buyers, which ultimately helped boost my business," Farhana said.

"This is not an isolated incident of womenfolk...Almost all women entrepreneurs are experiencing same reality to run their business," she added.

 

In both rural and urban settings, initiative of women is marred because their family obligation and conservative social values, Farhana said adding, girl students of affluent groups in Dhaka city also could not get out from the unproductive cycle despite having all opportunities.

 

This is how, Farhana A Rahman, one of the country's successful entrepreneurs in the ICT, narrated her story what she faced to become an entrepreneur and made her observations on women entrepreneurship.

Managing Director of High-Tech Park Authority said Hosne Ara Begum said the government has attached its highest priority to empower women economically and socially in both urban and rural areas.

 

As part of its sincere efforts, the government has introduced 30 percent quota for women in every sphere of public sector to become IT professionals and entrepreneurs, she added.

 

"We have also facilitated 50 entrepreneurs comprising both male and female at Janata Tower to promote entrepreneurship in the IT sector. Hopefully, women entrepreneurs will be encouraged to expand their business."

 

The government has a plan to provide infrastructure facilities at the Kaliakoir High Tech Park in future to create entrepreneurs in the IT sector.

 

Although women's access to the ICT sector has increased remarkably in the past couple of years, the country needs to create pro-women ICT ecosystem along with changing mindset to develop women professionals and entrepreneurs, Hosne Ara said.

 

"Many promising female students are forced to get married ending professional life. In rural areas, the movement of the women is largely restricted due to conservative family attitude and social values," Hosne Ara added. All these things are affecting the womenfolk to build their careers in the IT Sector, she added.

 

Other women empowerment campaigner said many parents are unwilling to let their daughters visit community computer centers, as they are seen as unsuitable and unsafe places for women. Because of these social restrictions, women and girls in Bangladesh have less access to digital technology than men. If adequate facilities and policy supports are ensured, women can become the next movers and shakers of ICT domain, they added.

 

In order to encourage women entrepreneurship in the country, they urged the government to provide grant for promising IT entrepreneurs to run their business smoothly.