Women Achieve Business Formalization Milestone!

Under the project “Empowering Rohingya Entrepreneurs through Skills, Financial Access and Market Formalization,” funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and technically supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Mukti Cox’s Bazar has been working to strengthen the economic resilience and entrepreneurial capacity of women in the Rohingya-hosting communities of Cox’s Bazar.

As part of this initiative, Mukti Cox’s Bazar provided 50 women entrepreneurs from Palongkhali Union of Ukhiya Upazila comprehensive capacity-building support aimed at enhancing their business knowledge, technical skills, and financial independence. The project-participants successfully completed a series of training sessions covering quality product development, business planning and management, financial literacy, market analysis, and digital literacy. The training equipped them with practical knowledge and skills to establish and manage small businesses more effectively and sustainably.

Following the completion of the training programme, each project-participant received a cash grant of BDT 15,000 to support the establishment and growth of her enterprise. Utilizing this financial assistance, the women have already begun producing and marketing a variety of handicrafts and garment products, creating new livelihood opportunities for themselves and their families. The project has enabled participants to transform newly acquired skills into income-generating activities, contributing to greater economic empowerment and self-reliance.

A significant milestone was achieved on 11 January 2026 when all 50 women entrepreneurs formally obtained trade licenses from the Palongkhali Union Parishad. This achievement represents an important step toward the formalization of their businesses and their integration into the local economic system. By securing legal recognition, the entrepreneurs are now better positioned to expand their business operations, access new market opportunities, build customer trust, and comply with local regulatory requirements.

The issuance of trade licenses not only validates the entrepreneurs’ efforts but also enhances their prospects for long-term business sustainability. Formal registration opens avenues for future financial inclusion, access to business development services, and potential collaboration with wider market actors. Furthermore, it strengthens the entrepreneurs’ confidence and visibility within their communities, enabling them to play a more active role in local economic development.

Through a combination of skills development, financial support, and business formalization, the project is helping women entrepreneurs move beyond subsistence-level activities toward sustainable and growth-oriented enterprises. Their success demonstrates the transformative impact of targeted livelihood interventions and highlights the important contribution that women-led businesses can make to household well-being, community resilience, and inclusive economic development in Cox’s Bazar.