News & Events
A World Bank mission has successfully concluded the Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the Sustainable Microenterprise and Resilient Transformation (SMART) project, finding the initiative progressing well and delivering both financial and environmental benefits to micro-entrepreneurs.
The review mission, led by Keisuke Iyadomi, Task Team Leader (TTL) of the SMART Project at the World Bank, was conducted from 5 to 16 April 2026. During the mission, the delegation visited 13 sub-projects spread across the country and engaged directly with micro-entrepreneurs and other grassroots stakeholders. The team also held a series of meetings and discussion sessions to comprehensively assess progress across all components of the project.
Following field visits, formal review discussions were launched through a kick-off meeting on 12 April 2026, presided over by Md Mashiar Rahman, Deputy Managing Director of PKSF. In his opening remarks, Rahman emphasized that PKSF is actively integrating the principles of the SMART project into its broader operations, noting that the project’s objectives align closely with PKSF’s strategic plan.
The World Bank delegation also held a view-exchange session with representatives of PKSF’s Partner Organizations (POs) implementing the SMART project, with discussions focusing on the POs’ financial portfolios and the adoption of Resource-Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) practices.
On 19 April 2026, the mission held a check-out meeting with the Financial Institutions Division (FID) of the Ministry of Finance. Keisuke Iyadomi informed the FID that the project is right on track. He highlighted that the SMART project provides a platform enabling micro-entrepreneurs to benefit both financially and environmentally. Kamrul Hoque Maruf, Joint Secretary of the FID, echoed this sentiment, stating that the project is poised to leave a sustainable impact on both the economy and the environment.
The mission’s findings were further shared in a meeting with the Economic Relations Division (ERD) on 28 April 2026. Keisuke Iyadomi reported that micro-entrepreneurs adopting RECP practices are successfully reducing production costs and increasing profitability. Additional Secretary of the ERD, Mirana Mahrukh, who presided over the session, expressed satisfaction with the project’s progress, noting that it was reassuring to learn there were no critical challenges facing the initiative.
