Project Development Meeting with a2i & ICT Division

A high-level project development meeting with officials of a2i (Aspire to Innovate), along with the Project Director, Mr. Md. Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan, and the SFCP team led by Chief Adviser Prof. Quamrul Alam of Central Queensland University, Australia, was held on 28 November, 2023. The primary agenda was to review the progress of the proposed SFCP (formerly EC)-a2i Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and discuss concrete partnership activities for the upcoming year.

During the meeting, both sides presented their respective organizational priorities and explored areas of synergy. The SFCP team provided a detailed overview of the proposed costume jewelry project, including its target beneficiaries (marginalized women entrepreneurs in Cox’s Bazar and Dhaka), estimated budget, export potential, and capacity-building framework. The a2i officials expressed strong interest in the project’s innovative approach to linking traditional craftsmanship with digital marketplaces and export opportunities. The meeting laid the groundwork for the eventual signing of the MOU in January 2024 and the subsequent project approval in May 2024.