Selima Ahmad
Selima Ahmad, Founder of the Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI), was acutely aware of the need for a national body, which represented the interests and supported the initiatives of women entrepreneurs. As a successful businesswoman herself with longstanding experience in the private sector, Ahmad took the initiative to form a Chamber of Commerce devoted exclusively to facilitating the advancement of women entrepreneurs. She was President of BWCCI until 2012 and now Chairperson of ‘Entrepreneurships Development Cell “ of BWCCI
Drawing on her business experience and involvement with several trade organizations, including the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries, Bangladesh Automobile Assemblers and Manufacturers Association, Bangladesh Handicraft Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Bangladesh Association of Publicly Listed Companies, Ahmad convinced and mobilized women entrepreneurs, the government and development partners of the need for the creation of BWCCI.
Selima’s initiative to form a separate chamber for women was resisted by the mainstream Business community of Bangladesh. Despite this, Selima had continuous dialogue with the Government for the need to grow women entrepreneurs and sustain their enterprises. Her persuasion and advocacy finally resulted in the approval by the Government to establish a separate Chamber of Commerce for women. Ahmad feels that with the achievements in women empowerment the developing economies will hugely benefit. The contribution of women entrepreneurs will help in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the impact will assist in alleviating poverty.
She has developed 3000 women entrepreneurs by planning, designing and facilitating different programs. She supports these initiatives by providing training, business counseling, credit linkages, acting as guarantor, and lobbying government and policy makers on behalf of business Women across Bangladesh. She organized the 1st Women’s National Business Agenda (WNBA), 2009 and successfully steered all stakeholders to make the WNBA declaration. Her dynamic advocacy for access to credit for women entrepreneurs has created a separate allocation of fund by the central bank with low rate of interest and without collateral for women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh. Ahmad is an activist who promotes democracy, gender equality, anti-corruption and women entrepreneurship. Her work is recognized not only in Bangladesh but also in the global arena. She has been invited as a speaker in many national and international seminars.
Ahmad, Vice Chairperson of the Nitol-Niloy Group is the quintessential successful woman. The Nitol-Niloy Group has a strong, diversified profile, which includes a joint venture with TATA Motors of India to trade, assemble, and provide after sales support of vehicles, transport and aviation services, financial institutions, manufacturing of sugar, cement, paper and luggage, real estate development, and sports promotion. The Government has appointed her as a board of director for a public commercial bank. She obtained her Graduation and Masters in Business Management from Dhaka University and took up short courses in Japan, Denmark and Canada. She was also a Fellow at Stanford University. Selima Ahmad's accomplishments have earned her the title of Best Female Entrepreneur in Bangladesh by different organizations in different times; Best Women Achievers, 2005, 2006 by Consortium of Women Entrepreneurs of India; TIAW World of Difference Award 100 in 2010, for bringing a difference for Women in Bangladesh by The International Alliance for Women (TIAW), Canada. She was selected as a Laureate of the Islamic Development Bank's “Women’s Contribution in Development” and awarded in 2012; She also received the Priyadarshini Award from the Federation of Women Entrepreneurs Association.
Drawing on her business experience and involvement with several trade organizations, including the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries, Bangladesh Automobile Assemblers and Manufacturers Association, Bangladesh Handicraft Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Bangladesh Association of Publicly Listed Companies, Ahmad convinced and mobilized women entrepreneurs, the government and development partners of the need for the creation of BWCCI.
Selima’s initiative to form a separate chamber for women was resisted by the mainstream Business community of Bangladesh. Despite this, Selima had continuous dialogue with the Government for the need to grow women entrepreneurs and sustain their enterprises. Her persuasion and advocacy finally resulted in the approval by the Government to establish a separate Chamber of Commerce for women. Ahmad feels that with the achievements in women empowerment the developing economies will hugely benefit. The contribution of women entrepreneurs will help in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the impact will assist in alleviating poverty.
She has developed 3000 women entrepreneurs by planning, designing and facilitating different programs. She supports these initiatives by providing training, business counseling, credit linkages, acting as guarantor, and lobbying government and policy makers on behalf of business Women across Bangladesh. She organized the 1st Women’s National Business Agenda (WNBA), 2009 and successfully steered all stakeholders to make the WNBA declaration. Her dynamic advocacy for access to credit for women entrepreneurs has created a separate allocation of fund by the central bank with low rate of interest and without collateral for women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh. Ahmad is an activist who promotes democracy, gender equality, anti-corruption and women entrepreneurship. Her work is recognized not only in Bangladesh but also in the global arena. She has been invited as a speaker in many national and international seminars.
Ahmad, Vice Chairperson of the Nitol-Niloy Group is the quintessential successful woman. The Nitol-Niloy Group has a strong, diversified profile, which includes a joint venture with TATA Motors of India to trade, assemble, and provide after sales support of vehicles, transport and aviation services, financial institutions, manufacturing of sugar, cement, paper and luggage, real estate development, and sports promotion. The Government has appointed her as a board of director for a public commercial bank. She obtained her Graduation and Masters in Business Management from Dhaka University and took up short courses in Japan, Denmark and Canada. She was also a Fellow at Stanford University. Selima Ahmad's accomplishments have earned her the title of Best Female Entrepreneur in Bangladesh by different organizations in different times; Best Women Achievers, 2005, 2006 by Consortium of Women Entrepreneurs of India; TIAW World of Difference Award 100 in 2010, for bringing a difference for Women in Bangladesh by The International Alliance for Women (TIAW), Canada. She was selected as a Laureate of the Islamic Development Bank's “Women’s Contribution in Development” and awarded in 2012; She also received the Priyadarshini Award from the Federation of Women Entrepreneurs Association.
