iDE Bangladesh has called for stronger private sector partnerships to develop commercially viable markets and expand access to products and services for low-income and underserved communities.
The call came at a private sector meet organised by the international development organisation at a hotel in Dhaka omWednesday that brought together existing and prospective business partners to explore opportunities for collaboration, investment and market development.
The event featured 17 showcase stalls displaying products, prototypes, technologies and services from iDE Bangladesh’s private sector partners, including Grameen Danone Foods, ATEC, CPIL, Abedin Equipment, Bayer CropScience, RFL, ACI, Lal Teer Seed, Rural Sun Power, NRBC Bank and SMC.
The exhibits covered agriculture, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), renewable energy, nutrition and climate-smart solutions.
iDE Global CEO Reed Andrew Peterson, in his special address, said low-income communities should be considered customers, producers and entrepreneurs rather than merely recipients of aid.
Drawing on his recent visit to Cox’s Bazar, he explained how iDE helps businesses reach underserved markets through product adaptation, last-mile distribution networks and shared investment.
He said such approaches could create sustainable business opportunities while supporting iDE’s global target of empowering one million entrepreneurs by 2035.
iDE Bangladesh Country Director Sameer Karki said private sector partners could address real challenges in communities by developing products and services accessible to low-income and rural customers.
He outlined opportunities for joint ventures, co-investment and product innovation under iDE Bangladesh’s Private Sector Engagement (PSE) Strategy.
Several private sector leaders also spoke at the event, sharing their experiences and views on business partnerships and market development.
They included Lal Teer Seed Director Tajwar M Awal, SMC Managing Director Toslim Uddin, RFL Chief Operating Officer Sukanto Das, SafePad Bangladesh Managing Director Tahmid K. Chowdhury, NRBC Bank Managing Director Dr Md Touhidul Alam Khan and Bayer CropScience Country Lead for Field Solutions and CropScience R&D Rajaul Karim.
Other speakers included TML Managing Director Md Sadid Jamil, Abedin Equipment Limited’s Md Amir Hossain and Rural Sun Power’s Md Nazmul Hasan.
iDE is a global non-profit organisation working to create income and livelihood opportunities for people living in poverty through market-based approaches.
In Bangladesh, it works with entrepreneurs, businesses, government agencies and development partners to build inclusive market systems and connect underserved communities with products, services and economic opportunities.