Accessing reliable business information and support services remain one of the biggest challenges facing micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Bangladesh. Entrepreneurs often need to navigate multiple institutions to find information on financing, regulations, training, licensing, market opportunities and business advisory services.
To help address these challenges, the International Labour Organization (ILO) ProGRESS project funded by the Government of Canda, in partnership with the SME Foundation and the Ministry of Industries, has launched Bangladesh's national Business Development Services (BDS) Portal - a one-stop centralized digital platform that connects entrepreneurs with essential business development services.
Launched on 28 June during Bangladesh's observance of International MSME Day 2026, the portal aims to make business support services easier to find, more transparent and more accessible, helping enterprises improve productivity, expand their businesses and move towards formalization.
Why the portal matters?
Bangladesh's MSMEs account for more than 11.7 million operational economic units, making them a major source of employment, entrepreneurship and economic growth. Yet many businesses continue to face barriers in accessing information, finance, markets, skills development and government services.
The BDS Portal seeks to bridge these gaps by bringing together information and services from multiple organizations on a single and centralized digital platform, reducing the time and effort entrepreneurs spend searching for support.
By improving access to business development services, the portal is expected to strengthen enterprise competitiveness, facilitate enterprise formalization and support the creation of more productive and sustainable businesses.
What the portal offers?
The portal serves as a centralized gateway where entrepreneurs can access information on:
- Business advisory and enterprise development services
- Skills development and entrepreneurship training
- Financial services and financing opportunities
- Market information and business networking
- Business registration and licensing support
- Other business development services provided by public and private institutions and experts
The platform also enables accredited business development service providers such as business trainers, coaches, consultants; tech services providers, banks and lending institutions to showcase their services and expand their client base.
© ILO/Pritom Roy
Practical guidebooks simplify business formalization
Alongside the portal, the ILO and SME Foundation launched three practical guidebooks designed to make regulatory requirements easier to understand and navigate. These include:
- A summarized business licensing guidebook
- A licensing Guidebook on plastic waste management
- A licensing guidebook on light engineering
The publications provide entrepreneurs with practical information on licensing requirements, responsible government agencies, indicative costs, processing timelines and step-by-step procedures. By simplifying often complex regulatory processes, the guidebooks are expected to reduce information barriers and support enterprise formalization. These guidebooks were developed by ILO Formalization and Global Supply Chain initiative with funding support from the European Union, Netherlands, Sweeden and the Government of Canada.
Together, the portal and guidebooks provide MSMEs with practical tools that make starting, operating and growing a business easier.
© ILO/Pritom Roy
ILO's contribution
The portal is part of the ILO's broader support to strengthen Bangladesh's MSME ecosystem through the ProGRESS project.
Working with the SME Foundation and national partners, the ILO has contributed to:
- the development of the draft SME Policy 2025 through policy dialogue and technical consultations;
- entrepreneurship development using internationally recognized methodologies including Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB), Financial Literacy Training for Bankers and Gender and Entrepreneurship Together (GET Ahead);
- strengthening responsible business conduct;
- promoting SME cluster development; and
- improving enterprise productivity and competitiveness while advancing decent work.
© ILO/Pritom Roy
Speaking at the launch, ILO Bangladesh Country Director Max Tuñón stressed that productive and resilient MSMEs are essential for creating decent jobs and sustaining Bangladesh's economic growth as the country prepares for graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status.
"The BDS Portal is more than a digital platform. It is a practical tool that connects entrepreneurs with the information and services they need to establish, formalize and grow their businesses. By improving access to quality business development services, it will help strengthen enterprise competitiveness and create more opportunities for decent work." - Max Tuñón, Country Director, ILO Bangladesh
Government commitment
Addressing the launch, Industries, Commerce, Textiles and Jute Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir reaffirmed the Government's commitment to creating a more enabling environment for MSMEs.
He highlighted ongoing investments in industrial parks, continued support for entrepreneurship and policy measures in the 2026-27 national budget aimed at strengthening MSME development and expanding the sector's contribution to Bangladesh's economy.
© ILO/Pritom Roy
Looking ahead
Participants at the launch emphasized that the portal's long-term success will depend on regular updates, strong institutional collaboration and continued engagement with entrepreneurs and business service providers.
Panellists also highlighted the importance of linking the platform with technical and vocational education and training institutions, expanding connections with financial institutions, integrating digital business services and ensuring the platform remains accessible to women entrepreneurs, young entrepreneurs and underserved enterprises across Bangladesh.
As the platform evolves, the BDS Portal has the potential to become Bangladesh's central gateway for business development services - helping entrepreneurs access the knowledge, partnerships and opportunities they need to build competitive enterprises, create decent jobs and contribute to inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
