Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday put immense importance to research on demand, production and marketing to flourish small and medium enterprises (SMEs) of the country, The Independent reported.
 
"Research is urgently needed. Through the research, we can determine product demand, production and marketing. We’ve to do it and we’ll do it," she said while inaugurating the nine-day ‘8th National SME Product Fair 2020’ at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB).

The Prime Minister said researchers have to find out the solution for mitigating the demand for raw materials for SMEs. "We have to ensure the source and supply of raw materials locally. We’ve to look for the method to produce all these raw materials in our own country," she said.

She also said the government is developing youths as skilled and trained manpower imparting them necessary training, she said, adding that no one can term Bangladesh as a country of cheap labours any more.

The Prime Minister urged youths not to run after jobs, rather start doing business and self-employment programmes taking loans from banks.