Title:   The Role of Micro-credit for women entrepreneurs

Level:  Second Cycle

Department of Business and Economic Studies

University of Gavle

801 76 Gävle

Sweden

Telephone: (+46) 26 64 85 00

Fax: (+46) 26 64 85 89

Web site: http://www.hig.se

Authors: Kamrun Nahar Munny & Zang weiyu.

Supervisor:  Prof. Dr. Maria Fregidou-Malama

Dept. of Business and Economic Studies

Phone: +46 26-648687

Mobile: +46 706 201 601

Email:     mma@hig.se

Date:    May 23, 2011

Aim/purpose: The aim of the study is to explore the factors behind women entrepreneurship in Bangladesh and identify the role of microcredit to expand and  continue the entrepreneurial work.

Method:  This research study was  conducted  by  using    questionnaires  for  collecting   primary  data. The study uses a qualitative research approach to analyse the empirical findings.

Result:  The result of the study is to find out to what extent entrepreneurial skills and factors influence women entrepreneurs and help the growth of their business enterprises. At the same time the study also shows that a microcredit facility plays a vital role for business expansion and continuing of the entrepreneurial work. The study also identifies the role of microcredit and its impact on women entrepreneurs and their business expansion.

Suggestions for future research: The study revealed additional research topics that will be helpful for further investigation in the same field.   In doing further research, this study also suggests a few options that could bring new information to the entrepreneurial world. These are:

   Older and younger women - attitudes toward entrepreneurship.

   Young women entrepreneurial opportunity - their characteristics and survival strategies.

   Microcredit and Social business growth and survival strategies.

Contribution:  While the existing knowledge shows that credit facilities helped women start their businesses and made them entrepreneurs, this study shows that not only credit facilities but also entrepreneurial skills and factors force them to become entrepreneurs. This study added new knowledge for business women, that starting a new business is not fully dependent on money/credit facilities but also entrepreneurial factors and skills which drive them to be entrepreneurs.

Key words: Women Entrepreneur, Microcredit, Bangladesh, Entrepreneurial thought, Network.