Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) has approved a Tk7,245 crore financing package to promote microenterprise development, create new entrepreneurs and expand renewable energy use, including rooftop solar.
The largest allocation, Tk5,000 crore, will come from Bangladesh Bank financing and support new entrepreneurs in the cottage and microenterprise sectors.
The financing will target technology-driven agriculture and agro-processing, manufacturing, services and value-chain activities at the grassroots level.
PKSF said the programme aims to use the skills and productive capacity of low-income communities to create entrepreneurs and expand employment opportunities.
Another Tk500 crore will be allocated for rooftop solar power under a specialised financing programme backed by government funds.
The PKSF board approved a lending policy titled ‘Shouro Shokti’ under which customers will be able to obtain solar financing through partner organisations at an interest rate of 6 percent.
The remaining nearly Tk2,000 crore will be provided to PKSF’s partner organisations to finance cluster-based microenterprises, general services, agriculture and programmes for the ultra-poor, among other sectors.
The decisions were taken at a meeting of the PKSF Board of Directors on Sunday, chaired by its Chairman Zakir Ahmed Khan and attended by Managing Director Md Fazlul Kader and other board members.