A recent analysis that compares Bangladeshi crafts with Bali’s rattan bag industry shows a clear path for tiny local firms to reach global markets. Nano SMEs—small family workshops, handloom units, tiny food processors and compact tech teams—produce handmade, eco-friendly and culturally rich goods that many buyers abroad now seek. Bangladesh already has nearly 11.8 million cottage, micro, small and medium enterprises, yet SMEs contribute only about 27 percent to GDP, so unlocking export opportunities could change the economy. Examples include hand-woven jute products, Tangail sarees, Rajshahi dried mango, Sylhet organic tea and handcrafted leather goods that match rising demand for ethical, artisanal products. The Bali rattan case is useful: Indonesia earned US$158.5 million from rattan in 2024 and held about 42 percent of world rattan exports, while some workshops make thousands of bags a month for markets in Europe and the US. For Bangladeshi nano firms the main hurdles are finance, logistics and certification. A World Bank estimate points to a financing gap of nearly US$2.8 billion for SMEs, while small food or craft producers struggle with packaging, export paperwork and meeting foreign standards. Many rural makers also need better internet access, digital skills and reliable payment systems to sell on platforms like Etsy or Amazon. The proposed National SME Policy 2025 aims to raise SME contribution to GDP from 27 to 35 percent by 2030 and calls for stronger finance, export links and digital skills, which would help. Practical steps include digital credit scoring, low-collateral loans, credit guarantee schemes, export readiness courses run by universities and trade groups, and public-private partnerships that build shared packing and certification centers. Cluster-based branding can let regions showcase their special products together, while storytelling and heritage marketing will help customers value craft and sustainability. Recent figures show exports grew by 8.55 percent in the latest fiscal year, and the ready-made garment sector still makes about 84 percent of export earnings, which is why finding new export niches matters. A single small workshop in Bali, for example, can produce up to 7,000 rattan bags a month and sell them for roughly US$10 to US$30 each, showing how volume and value can both rise for tiny producers. Bangladeshi clusters could copy this mix of craft, quality control and market links to reach buyers in Brazil, the US, Europe and Australia. To make this real, export rules should be easier for small shipments and shipping options should be friendlier to low volumes and higher value cargo. With steady support and small, smart changes, local artisans and micro tech teams can turn skilled work into steady income and new global customers, and boost rural incomes across Bangladesh.
