Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) need unified business development support to improve the MSME ecosystem in Bangladesh, experts said at a programme.

Funded by the embassy of Switzerland to Bangladesh and implemented by Swisscontact, the programme, styled "Corporate Connect Event for MSMEs" was organised by B-SkillFUL, a multi-year programme aimed at improving the well-being of poor and disadvantaged men and women by increasing their access to the labour market and increasing their income.

LightCastle Partners, a premier management consulting firm, implemented the event as part of the business development service (BDS) package for B-SkillFUL at the Emmannuelle's Banquet Hall in Gulshan on Wednesday.

"Access to finance can be easier for the MSMEs if they are given proper knowledge about business documentation. Because the biggest hurdle for MSMEs in terms of gaining financial support from banks or financial institutions is the lack of proper documentation," said Samiul Anam, assistant vice-president and head of CMSE, Channel Banking of Bank Asia.

"Today's event is a testimony of those businesses that have made progress because of the support of the Swiss government," said Dajna Sorensen, team leader of B-SkillFUL at Swisscontact.

"The biggest challenge that MSMEs face in the case of exporting is ensuring quality and innovation.

If these challenges can be overcome, MSMEs have a lot of room for growth in the export market," said MG Shah Newaz, vice-president of Concord Ventures LTD.