UNISAME AND ASSOCIATES URGE PM TO GIVE PRIORITY TO MSMEs,FARM SECTOR

THE FINANCIAL DAILY 01/02/2021

The Union of Small and Medium enterprises (UNISAME) has invited the attention of the prime minister (PM) to the urgent need for promotion and development of the micro to medium sized entrepreneurs (MSME) and the SME farmers under priority to overcome the setback caused due to the pandemic.
President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver pointed out that the policy makers have failed to comprehend the real requirements of the sector and are beating around the bush and merely forming committees whereas the real requirements are ignored. He pointed out that the sector needs first of all, finance at affordable mark up, uninterrupted energy, technological support, marketing support and raw material. Secondly they need land at concession on pay as you earn basis.
Thaver said the commercial banks are not financing the MSMEs and insisting on selected collaterals like immovable property and feel comfortable only if immovable property of certain areas are offered to them as collaterals. They need to learn risk management and collateral management as well.
The entrepreneurs are complaining of electricity outages and the gas supply is becoming poorer with every single day. The cost of fuel is also increasing day by day.
The technological gap is increasing and the units are becoming outdated. The government needs to fill the technological gap by arranging for transfer of technology from the best sources like China, Taiwan, Korea and also Japan but unfortunately the government has failed to negotiate the best terms with China even under CPEC which could have been the best reciprocal system.
UNISAME Council had urged the government to arrange for raw material under free trade agreements (FTA) to reduce cost of production and to increase exports through wise FTAs with countries importing from us and on the other hand Pakistan buying from them.
No arrangements have been made to offer marketing support to export non traditional goods to non traditional countries. The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) needs to adopt aggressive methods to support the SMEs to enhance exports. It is high time TDAP sets up an SME gallery for Pakistani goods and a corresponding free portal for the SME exporters.
Haji Muhammad Saeed chairman SME Farmers Association (SMEFA) said the SME farmers are also suffering due to high cost of fertilizers, pesticides, seeds, diesel and unfair practices of middlemen. The expensive logistics and the poor warehousing, absence of cold storages, dehydration facilities are also causing setbacks.
Chairman of Cereals Association of Pakistan Haji Muzammil Rauf Chappal said the government needs to gear up Research and Development (R&D) on war footings.
He also urged the TDAP to apply for geographical indications (GI) tag for eligible produce items which are rightfully claiming GI tag due to their excellence and geographical identification. promptly now that the GI registry is set up under the Intellectual Property Organization

Posted in: Press Releases