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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                  To create a                        Centers for rural/unbanked
 passive compliance.The reasons                   long-term impact                   populations to expand financial
 appear to be based on persistent                                                    inclusion, implementing a
 underlying financial                             on society, IDLC                   comprehensive plan to improve
 infrastructure weaknesses and                    takes on issues                    interoperability of technology
 banks’ risk perceptions.  finance them all.  IDLC has always   related to health,   platforms among central bank,
             been keen to commit its resources                                       election commission, NBR, and
 society through various business   ENSURING HEALTH   not only to maximize its own   the environment,   others. Regulators can also
 efforts. Winning this award for   AND WELLBEING   profitability, but also to offer better   and education.   encourage direct connectivity
 the third time in a row reiterates   The key strengths of IDLC is its   quality of life to both its internal   They feel that these   among technology platform of
 their merchant bank’s continued   open and transparent governance,   and external stakeholder groups.  three sectors have   banks and NBFI for faster and
 leadership in the investment   customer’s trust and empowered   Green Banking: IDLC promotes   accountable online transactions.
 banking landscape of the country.  workforce. Their team members   sustainable business practices   the capability to
 IDLC has recently launched the   are some of the best in the bunch.   among its stakeholder groups,   mold society's   IDLC FINANCING
 IPO of Robi Axiata Limited, with   IDLC has a very robust process in   especially its clients and   future as they leave   HAPPINESS
 an issue size of BDT 5,237 million   place that allows them to be   employees. As part of sustainable   IDLC works with the slogan
 which is the  biggest ever IPO in   faster and better. They are also   business practices, IDLC is   a long-lasting   "Financing Happiness". They
 Bangladesh and also launched the   introducing technology at a faster   committed to contribute towards   impact.  believe in contributing to the
 IPO of Mir Akhter Hossain Limited   rate with the aim to provide the   greater environmental and social   grassroots for a greater change in
 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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