The growth rate of Bangladesh's rural micro, small and medium (MSM) entrepreneurs has doubled from 2.1 percent to 4.1 percent in the last two decades, a World Bank study shows.

The study released recently shows that annual average employment rate of growth in the rural non-firm sector increased by 3.8 million from 5.3 to 9 million during the period, local daily The Independent reported on Tuesday.

The study was carried out in a number of non-firms and their investment climate in rural areas.

It said in the rural non-firm sector, the process of structural transmission into more productive and dynamic sector is also evident from the fact that rural household based enterprises are experiencing much higher growth than the employment.

Despite the progress of structural transmission, the growth rate of the enterprises as well employments have been slightly slower compared to country's national trends.

In rural areas, households manufacturing sector has experienced an impressive growth rate of 6.1 percent and its employments growth rate of 10.4 percent. At the national level, household manufacturing experienced decline in employment growth of 0.85 percent in recent years.

Rural Investment Climate Assessment shows that about 40 percent MSM enterprises in rural non-firm sector are facing lack of access even to basic production and services. In rural areas, less than 5 percent of firms have utility connection compared to more than 60 percent in urban areas.

Source: Xinhua