According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the tourism sector in Bangladesh engages nearly 5 million people, and by 2030, this number is expected to grow by another 2 million. In Cox’s Bazar, a prominent tourism destination, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play a crucial role in supporting the local economy through their engagement within the tourism sector. However, many of these businesses face challenges due to limited financial literacy. Without a strong understanding of financial management, these enterprises often struggle to maintain proper records, access finance, or plan for growth, which undermines their long-term sustainability.
To address this challenge, Innovision Consulting organized a three-day Financial Literacy Training for 20 MSMEs in Cox’s Bazar under the PRABRIDDHI project. The project is implemented by Swisscontact and funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
The training, held from April 20 to 22, 2025, was designed to build the financial capacity of tourism-sector MSMEs and support them in becoming more structured and financially resilient. Participants were taught how to record daily income and expenses, secure essential business documents such as trade licenses and bank accounts, and approach banks with greater confidence. Practical tools such as business ledgers, planning charts, and business canvases were introduced to help participants manage their operations more efficiently.
The sessions were conducted by Khondker Morshed Millat, former Director of the Sustainable Finance Department at Bangladesh Bank and current faculty member at BIBM, who brought valuable insights into sustainable finance. Nazmul Ahsan, Portfolio Director at Innovision Consulting, shared his experience as a long-time entrepreneurship trainer. N. M. Shahriar, Associate at Innovision, provided on-the-ground support, drawing from his work with grassroots-level MSMEs.
On the final day of the training, agent bankers from The City Bank PLC and Dutch-Bangla Bank PLC joined the session. They shared information about their MSME-friendly financial services and expressed interest in supporting the entrepreneurs who had participated in the training. Their presence also offered participants a first-hand opportunity to connect with formal financial institutions.