B Mirror Report: The Women Entrepreneur Association of Bangladesh (WEAB) has proposed the formation of a special fund, tax rebates and soft-term loans in the upcoming national budget for FY27 to support women entrepreneurs, expand investment, generate employment and ensure inclusive economic growth in the country.

The proposals were placed by WEAB President Nasreen Fatema Awal at a pre-budget discussion held today at the conference room of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) in the capital.

Nasreen Fatema said women entrepreneurs are making significant contributions to the country’s economy but continue to face multiple challenges due to limited access to finance, barriers to market entry, complexities in the tax structure, technological constraints and inadequate institutional support.

Expressing optimism about the government’s women-friendly stance, she hoped that effective measures would be taken to improve the overall business environment for women entrepreneurs.

Key proposals include establishment of a dedicated fund for business expansion, special incentives for women-led startups and cottage, micro, small and medium enterprises (CMSMEs), and targeted support programmes for rural and marginal women entrepreneurs. The association also proposed providing soft-term loans with tenures of five to ten years for startup women entrepreneurs.

In addition, WEAB recommended enhanced tax rebates for women-owned businesses, special income tax exemptions up to a certain turnover threshold, and reduced fees for VAT registration, trade licences and company registration. It also proposed reserving a specific portion of government procurement for women entrepreneurs.

The proposals further include setting up an e-commerce and digital marketing support fund, expanding opportunities for digital skills, financial literacy and business management training, and introducing grants or matching grant facilities for technology adoption.

The organisation also urged effective implementation of the Women Entrepreneurship Development Policy, establishment of a budget monitoring framework, introduction of a dedicated SME credit guarantee scheme, and provision of interest subsidies on loans.

WEAB proposed raising the tax-free income ceiling for women to Tk 600,000 and offering VAT exemptions on products produced by women entrepreneurs, including handicrafts, processed foods and service-sector outputs.

It also called for expanding the number of women-owned export-oriented industries by providing fiscal facilities, simplifying procedures to access such benefits, and establishing separate VAT commissionerates and income tax zones for women entrepreneurs.

Presiding over the meeting, NBR Chairman Md. Abdur Rahman Khan said steps would be taken to introduce simplified tax systems for women entrepreneurs, streamline VAT processes, expand online services and strengthen free training programmes.

“Women’s participation in the mainstream economy is essential for national development and economic progress,” he said, adding that sustainable growth is not possible without engaging a large portion of the population.

He also announced that the NBR will provide free training on income tax, VAT and customs for women entrepreneurs through both online and in-person formats.

The NBR chairman urged women entrepreneur organisations to prepare a training calendar for the July–December period and coordinate with the revenue board accordingly.