SMEDA CHIEF URGES STAKEHOLDERS TO COLLABORATE

The Financial Daily… 17th February 2020

The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises {UNISAME} appreciated the positive step of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority {SMEDA} to invite stakeholders for collaboration for inclusive development of sector.
President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said the new chief executive officer {CEO} SMEDA Hashim Raza has invited UNISAME to collaborate by enhancing co-operation to bring collective wisdom to a wider SME development agenda and has sought suggestions and proposals for development of the business community in the region.
Thaver said Hashim Raza has appreciated the efforts of UNISAME for supporting the SMEs and representing the interest of the sector at various forums.
Thaver who is also member of SME Pakistan Forum of State Bank of Pakistan said that during his term as member board of directors (BoD) SMEDA in 2011 -14, he had introduced the concept of inviting the banks and multinational companies to join hands with SMEDA by sponsoring projects through their corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds. He was happy to learn that Hashim Raza is keen to reach out to the private sector and engage them in SME promotion and development.
UNISAME Council has offered full co-operation for all activities and initiatives aimed at facilitating the SMEs. The council has urged the CEO SMEDA to expedite the SME policy and implement it in letter and spirit when approved.
The council is confident the CEO SMEDA will impress upon the BoD and chairman SMEDA to seek priority for the sector to enable the sector to modernize their units.
It is very important that the upper medium sector is encouraged to set up import substitution industries to reduce the import bill.
For enhancing exports the sector is keenly looking forward to the SME export promotion bureau.
The other high impact steps required are setting up of value addition institute, SME liaison committee, SME ombudsman, Gateway for Merchant Accounts facilities for promotion of e_Commerce and online business.
The council was perturbed at the slow pace of work for the sector but is now very hopeful that the recently appointed CEO has taken charge and is in gear for fast track promotion.

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