Page 37 - IBT December 2020
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financing overall from a low base.                                                                                           enterprises. This is a profitable
                                                                                     However, its impact and                                                                                                      business where non-performing
                                                                                     effectiveness could be enhanced                                                                                              loans are very low at 3.13%.
                                                                                     by reviewing past and present
                                                                                     financing schemes and                                                                                                        A CREATIVE AND
                                                                                     institutions.The Bangladesh Bank                                                                                             COMPREHENSIVE
                                                                                     should refocus its attention on                                                                                              POLICY APPROACH
                                                                                     the most constrained among the                                                                                               There can be multiple creative
                                                                                     MSMEs. In addition, the                                                                                                      approaches that can be induced by
                                                                                     Bangladesh Bank’s policy                                                                                                     policymakers. For example,
                                                                                     emphasis on banks does not                                                                                                   encouraging Kiosk based
                                                                                     appear to be fully internalized.                                                                                             (self-service or assisted
                                                                                     Indeed, the banks’ response can                                                                                              self-service) Service Delivery
                                                                                     best be characterized as one of                                                                                              Centers for rural/unbanked
                                                                                     passive compliance.The reasons                                                                                               populations to expand financial
                                                                                     appear to be based on persistent                                                                                             inclusion, implementing a
                                                                                     underlying financial                                                                                                         comprehensive plan to improve
                                                                                     infrastructure weaknesses and                                                                                                interoperability of technology
                                                                                     banks’ risk perceptions.                              finance them all.  IDLC has always                                     platforms among central bank,
                                                                                                                                           been keen to commit its resources                                      election commission, NBR, and
              IDLC has always been                     society through various business   ENSURING HEALTH                                  not only to maximize its own                                           others. Regulators can also
                                                                                     AND WELLBEING
                                                                                                                                           profitability, but also to offer better
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  encourage direct connectivity
                                                       efforts. Winning this award for
              keen to commit its                       the third time in a row reiterates   The key strengths of IDLC is its               quality of life to both its internal                                   among technology platform of
              resources not only to                    their merchant bank’s continued   open and transparent governance,                  and external stakeholder groups.                                       banks and NBFI for faster and
                                                                                                                                           Green Banking: IDLC promotes
                                                                                     customer’s trust and empowered
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  accountable online transactions.
                                                       leadership in the investment
              maximize its own                         banking landscape of the country.  workforce. Their team members                    sustainable business practices
              profitability, but also to                IDLC has recently launched the   are some of the best in the bunch.                 among its stakeholder groups,                                          IDLC FINANCING
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  HAPPINESS
                                                                                                                                           especially its clients and
                                                                                     IDLC has a very robust process in
                                                       IPO of Robi Axiata Limited, with
              offer better quality of                   an issue size of BDT 5,237 million   place that allows them to be                   employees. As part of sustainable                                      IDLC works with the slogan
              life to both its internal                which is the  biggest ever IPO in   faster and better. They are also                business practices, IDLC is                                            "Financing Happiness". They
                                                                                                                                           committed to contribute towards
                                                                                     introducing technology at a faster
                                                       Bangladesh and also launched the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  believe in contributing to the
              and external                             IPO of Mir Akhter Hossain Limited   rate with the aim to provide the                greater environmental and social                                       grassroots for a greater change in
              stakeholder groups.                      with an issue size of BDT 1,250   best service to customers.                        sustainability by undertaking                                          society. To create a long-term
                                                       million.                      During this unprecedented time,                       various initiatives.                   these kitchen market vegetable   impact on society, IDLC takes on
                                                                                     the primary focus of IDLC was                         Women Empowerment: IDLC has            retailers do not have access to   issues related to health, the
                                                       MSME: THE ENGINE              ensuring health and wellbeing of                      introduced a comprehensive             formal credit mainly due to lack of   environment, and education. They
              THE AWARD-WINNING                        OF AN ECONOMY                 its employees as well as its                          package for women empowerment          proper documents and financial   feel that these three sectors have
              INTEGRITY OF IDLC                        Small and Medium Enterprises   customers without hampering its                      in 2008 titled ‘Women                  records. To fulfil their financial   the capability to mold society's
 COPING THROUGH   INVESTMENTS                          (SME) are put in the frontline of   business. Keeping that in mind,                 Entrepreneur Loan’. This product       needs, they avail loans from local   future as they leave a long-lasting
 THE CRISIS   IDLC Investments is one of the key       an economy as they carry out the   they introduced a digital platform               not only offers loan facility with     lenders at a very high interest rate,   impact. One of the recent examples
 Many of the non-banking   performing subsidiaries of IDLC   connotation of “the engine of an   for deposit collection to safeguard        lower interest rates it also           which is deterrent to their business   is the project of boat ambulance in
                                                                                                                                           facilitates the women in obtaining
 financial institutions are   Finance Limited. They assist their   economy”. Being an intrinsically   their liquidity to ensure            regulatory documents and licenses      growth. The objective of this   Rangabali which was launched in
 struggling with their   clients throughout the IPO process,   challenging sector, it brings a   organizational stability during           essential to conduct a business.       initiative is to contribute to the   January 2020. The ambulance was
 profitability. Not only NBFI’s,   along with sustained market support   chunk of unbanked people under   this crisis period.              Corporate Social Responsibility:       growth of this section by meeting   designed by the foundation as
 the whole economy is suffering   and enable fast and easy portfolio   the financial inclusion net by   People have grown the              Community development has              their financial needs.          well. In a 26-foot long and
 due to this pandemic. Almost   management for individuals to ease   creating job opportunities.   consciousness that now is the           always been an integral part of        Affordable Home loan: Affordable   eight-foot-wide boat ambulance,
 every business organization   them into the capital market.  Access to formal finance by   time to consider saving up for                 IDLC. Their CSR initiatives are        housing refers to housing units   they managed to keep a space for
 was closed for a long period of   IDLC Investments has been awarded   MSMEs in Bangladesh is limited   unforeseen events. This pandemic   focused on reducing inequalities in    that are affordable by that section   an emergency delivery.
 time. This hampered the whole   by Euromoney for its ability to adapt   compared to the average for the   has been a jarring wake-up call.  the society through investing in     of society whose income is below   Another project is named Oditiya.
 economy. IDLC has managed to   and tailor its offerings in adverse   South Asia region. Despite   CASTING A WIDER                         education, health, livelihood          the median household income.    In this project, they offer
 overcome this quite well   conditions, superior financial   significant knowledge gaps,   FINANCIAL NET                                   development and environmental          IDLC’s Affordable Home Loan     scholarships to underprivileged
 because of enough liquidity   performance compared to peers,   MSMEs are undoubtedly the                                                  challenges.                            provides housing loans for the low   women who are the first in their
 and timely prudential   unique deals, its legacy of delivering   backbone of non-farm job creation   Being a financial institution IDLC   Financial Inclusion of Unbanked        and middle income (monthly      families to reach the honors level
 investment strategies.   tailored and innovative solutions to   in Bangladesh. A study prepared   takes care of most of the               Population: In 2019, IDLC Finance      income within the upper ceiling of   of education. They collaborate with
 Depositor’s trust has also   local and international clients across   by the World Bank Group and the   financing needs of their          created access to finance for about    BDT 60,000) households, a       a vernacular Bangladeshi daily and
 played a vital role here. IDLC   a range of products and services.   Policy Research Institute of   customers, from large                 450 Kitchen Market Vegetable           currently untapped segment in the   Asian University for Women for the
 has a long reputation for good   IDLC’s strength lies in its adaptability   Bangladesh (PRI) showed that the   corporations who want to set up a   Retailers as part of its vision of   country’s housing finance sector.   project. They bear the educational
 governance, compliance, and   to change and also its commitment to   Bangladesh Bank’s efforts appear   large factory to small businesses   financial inclusion. Traditionally,   MSME: IDLC has invested 46% of   expenses of the women at the
 experience of thirty-five years.  creating a lasting impact on the   to have increased MSME   requiring working capital, they                                                    its portfolio in small and medium   honors level.

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