EBL hosted Joyee Graduation Ceremony at its head office in the city’s Gulshan area. The first batch of Joyee graduates who attended the exclusive 6-month women entrepreneurs development program jointly organized by EBL and Prerona Foundation were handed over the certificates by Managing Director of EBL Ali Reza Iftekhar and CEO of Prerona Foundation Azizur Rhman.  Joyee was launched last year with the vision to building entrepreneurial abilities of growth-stage women entrepreneurs and enhance their creditworthiness. The program extensively focus on a structured approach to develop the required skills of an entrepreneur and support the complete process of transforming their business into a successful, scalable and sustainable venture.

Ali Reza Iftekhar, Managing Director & CEO, Eastern Bank Ltd., said, “EBL Women Banking is committed to harness and develop skillsets women entrepreneurs for their sustainable growth. Joyee program is designed to help women entrepreneurs access to various schemes of finance, training, mentoring, networking and business support services to overcome existential barriers in the emerging markets.”

Azizur Rahman FCS, CEO of Prerona Foundation, said “Along with the various initiatives and plans of the government to increase the participation of women entrepreneurs in the economy, we are happy to take this step jointly with Eastern Bank Ltd. as a part of non-governmental organizations and civil society. Prerona Foundation aims to ensure the involvement of women in the national economy and create a favorable environment for women entrepreneurs through this program.”

Khorshed Anowar, Deputy Managing Director and Head of Retail & SME Banking; Zulkar Nayen, Head of Business; Sarmin Atik, Head of Liability and Wealth Management, Tanzeri Hoque, Head of Priority and Women Banking  of EBL along with senior officials from respective organizations were also present at the ceremony.