Eastern Bank PLC (EBL) and Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center (BYLC) have partnered to launch a six-month programme aimed at helping women entrepreneurs expand their businesses and gain access to formal financing.

Under the partnership, 40 women entrepreneurs will participate in “Joyee 2.0,” a Women Entrepreneurs’ Growth and Access-to-Finance Program offering structured training, mentorship, business development support, financial management guidance and loan-readiness preparation.

The initiative is designed to address some of the main barriers faced by women-led businesses, including limited access to business knowledge, professional networks, mentorship and financing opportunities.

EBL said the programme would combine BYLC’s experience in leadership and entrepreneurship development with the bank’s SME financing and financial inclusion initiatives.

M. Khorshed Anowar, EBL’s deputy managing director and head of Retail and SME Banking, and Habibullah Tamim, acting in-charge and senior manager at BYLC, signed the partnership agreement in Dhaka recently.

EBL officials Tanzeri Hoque, head of Priority and Women Banking; Md. Shabu Munshi, head of SME Business; and Shakil Ahmed Himel, associate manager of Women Banking, attended the signing.

BYLC was represented by Imtiaj Uddin Ahmed, senior manager of Grants Management and Business Development; Kazi Shams Imtiaz Barta, assistant manager at the Office of Professional Development; and Farabi Muntasir, executive at the Skills Development Program.