Role of SMEs in Sustainable WASH outcomes: prospects and challenges in Bangladesh and India seminar event

On 19th March,Water.org and Intellecap hosted an impactful session to explore the opportunity of WASH enterprises to serve 96 million people still lacking access to safely managed water and sanitation facilities in Bangladesh. In addition, the discussion will explore the challenges of WASH enterprises of investment readiness, lack of awareness regarding alternative investment platforms and absence of support systems. 

About 15,000 WASH SMEs across 10 key sub sectors generate around USD 2 billion/annum in Bangladesh (WO-Inspira SME landscaping study 2022). Around 80% of these SMEs come from three predominant sub-sectors (volume wise): Tube well/motor pump/accessories manufacturers, Latrine installation  O&M service providers, Plastic WASH material manufacturers. Most WASH enterprises belong to small-cottage category whereas enterprises from WASH Infra EPCs, Water bottling companies, tube well/pump manufacturers etc. belong to Medium to Large category. 

Muntasir Tahmeed Chowdhury, The Managing Director of Inspira attended the session as a panelist among other esteemed panelists from water.org , FloWater and intellecap and the session was moderated by our consultant Mushfiqur Rahman.