| Bank BRAC Bank |
| Client Mustafa Bepari |
| Location Faridpur, Bangladesh |
For Mustafa Bepara, his venture provides more than just employment opportunities. ‘It is not a business, it is my destiny,’ says Mustafa. He is what he always wanted to be, an entrepreneur.
Mustafa’s business processes and trades coconut fiber (Copra), which has been used in mattresses, carpets, sofas, and other furniture. He mainly collects and purchases raw coconut fiber from various coconut mills and processes these fibers into small strands. These fiber strands are then sold to buyers who turn Mustafa’s fibers into fillings for the mattresses and sofas.
Mustafa’s business has positive environmental impacts…working with natural fibers from coconuts, his material is being used in place of artificial materials, such as plastics and foams
Mustafa learned his trade from his uncle, who taught him about negotiation, financial management, procurement and maintaining good relationships with customers. When Mustafa wanted to set-up a business of his own he needed capital for machinery and raw materials. The skills he had developed and his visible determination helped him to persuade BRAC Bank to agree to a loan.
Mustafa’s relationship with BRAC Bank since 2006 extends beyond receiving loans. BRAC Bank has provided finance facilities to help his cash flow and given him access to skill development workshops. BRAC Bank has also given Mustafa the opportunity to participate in the DANIDA Business-to-Business network so that he can meet and form relationships with overseas companies.
Beyond the social impact of providing employment for 30 people in his local community who previously had no employment, Mustafa’s business has positive environmental impacts too: working with natural fibers from coconuts, his material is being used in place of artificial materials, such as plastics and foams.