Despite improvements in policy support to women entrepreneurs in small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the financing gap between the demand and supply of loans remains as high as 60 per cent, according to a new study.
It showed that women's increased involvement in different sectors of SMEs has created a demand of Tk 99.75 billion in capital, including Tk 48.51 billion or almost half in working capital.
But the banks and non-banking financial institutions (NBFIs) were able to provide only Tk 39.68 billion in the fiscal year 2014-15, creating the financial gap, said the study titled 'Mapping market potential and accelerating finance for women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh'.
The FE obtained the study report ahead of its formal release scheduled for today (Thursday).
International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, with supports from Canada conducted the study on more than 500 women entrepreneurs.  
The study aims at understanding the market share of women-run SMEs, their challenges, potentials and sectoral involvement while providing necessary information to the banks and NBFIs for improving overall scenario.