NCC Bank PLC has entered into a strategic partnership with the Department of Youth Development (DYD) under the Ministry of Youth and Sports through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at empowering young entrepreneurs, promoting self-employment, and advancing sustainable economic growth across Bangladesh.
The agreement marks a significant step towards strengthening youth-focused financial inclusion by providing Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) loans to trained young professionals emerging from DYD’s extensive vocational and entrepreneurial training programmes.
Key Highlights of the MoU
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Partnership Objective | Empowering youth through financial access and entrepreneurship development |
| Parties Involved | NCC Bank PLC and Department of Youth Development (DYD) |
| Beneficiaries | DYD-trained young entrepreneurs across diverse sectors |
| Financial Instrument | SME Loans and Business Financing Support |
| Expected Outcome | Job creation, self-reliance, and contribution to national GDP growth |
The signing ceremony was held at the Department of Youth Development’s head office in Motijheel, Dhaka, where Gazi Md Saifuzzaman, Director General (Grade-1) of DYD, and M Shamsul Arefin, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NCC Bank PLC, formalised the agreement on behalf of their respective institutions.
Speaking at the event, Gazi Md Saifuzzaman emphasised the DYD’s pivotal role in youth empowerment:
“The Department of Youth Development is working relentlessly to transform the country’s youth into self-reliant and skilled contributors to the national economy. Every year, nearly 300,000 young men and women receive vocational and entrepreneurship training through our programmes. This partnership with NCC Bank will ensure that the financial support these young talents need is within their reach.”
He expressed appreciation for NCC Bank’s initiative, describing it as “a vital step towards addressing unemployment and fostering productive entrepreneurship among educated and skilled youth.”
In his remarks, M Shamsul Arefin, Managing Director of NCC Bank PLC, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to promoting inclusive development through access to finance:
“Our mission is to ensure that no aspiring young entrepreneur is held back by financial constraints. NCC Bank has long supported self-reliant ventures that drive sustainable growth. Through this partnership, we aim to enable thousands of trained youth to become successful entrepreneurs and create employment opportunities for others.”
He further added that this collaboration would contribute to building “a new generation of financially empowered, self-reliant citizens” who would play an essential role in achieving balanced national development.
Among others present were MA Akher, Joint Secretary and Director (Administration) of DYD; Priyasindhu Talukder, Joint Secretary and Director (Seed Financing); AKM Mofizul Islam, Director (Training); Md Habibur Rahman, Deputy Managing Director of NCC Bank; and several senior executives including Sharif Mohammad Mahsin, Shahin Akter Nuha, and Md Anisur Rahman Majumder.
The collaboration is expected to serve as a long-term platform for entrepreneurship development and financial inclusion, aligning with Bangladesh’s vision of a self-reliant, innovative youth economy.