The role of small and medium-scale industries in accelerating industrial development of the less developed countries is well recognised and well rehearsed in a large body of literature. Although some times criticised on grounds of relative inefficiency and a non-optimal use of productive factors as compared to larger firms, the SMIs have been generally extolled for their greater dependence of labour-intensive production techniques, lower requirements of imported inputs and a better pattern of geographical dispersion. This book is the first major contribution of its kind in Bangladesh to provide an empirically detailed and authentic analysis of three SMI sub- sectors viz., food processing, textiles and metal working.