Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun has said his ministry would take proper initiatives to ensure security-free loan and market facilities for country’s small and cottage industries’ entrepreneurs as he addressed the closing session of Heritage Handloom Festival.

“The industries ministry will take effective measures to ensure mortgage-free credit and market facilities for entrepreneurs of small and cottage industries after consultations with the concerned ministry and agency,” he said as the chief guest at the function at a capital hotel on Saturday.

The minister said financing and marketing of goods are the main drawbacks for the small and cottage industries entrepreneurs in the country.

The Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Foundation and Association of Fashion Designers of Bangladesh (AFDB) jointly organised the function with SME Foundation’s Managing Director M Shafiqul Islam in the chair.

Industries Secretary M Abdul Halim, Cultural Secretary Dr M Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal and Information Commissioner Suraiya Begum were addressed as special guests.

The minister said “There is huge demand for our handicraft products in international markets but we could not explore its export facilities fully”.

In this regard, he said “Initiatives would be taken for permanent displaying our handicrafts and handloom products at all the Bangladeshi embassies abroad,” adding that handicrafts corners will also be set at different airports in the country.