UNISAME DEMANDS IMPLEMENTATION OF EXPORT PROMOTION,MODERNIZATION AND UP GRADATION AS ENVISAGED IN SME POLICY 2021

The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has stressed on the need for early implementation of the SME Policy 2021 which envisages rapid SME export promotion, modernization and up gradation of SME units.

President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said the increase in exports is indeed commendable but we still need to increase our exports more. The idea of Razzak Dawood, adviser on commerce to prime minister for creating export culture is excellent but needs to be put into action earnestly. There is an urgent need to set up an SME export promotion bureau to exhibit the goods manufactured by SMEs and set up an SME gallery for global exposure. The SMEs are the ones who can play an important role and add value to produce for exports. Exports and imports are indeed two sides of the coin. Imports of raw materials are very necessary and uninterrupted supplies are a must.. He expressed serious concern on imposing 17% GST on solar equipment and said it is very unwise of the finance ministry to even think of this at a time when the country is facing an energy crisis.  The need of the hour is to manufacture solar panels in Pakistan and to promote solar equipment manufacturing in collaboration with Chinese under joint ventures..

Zeeshan Nazim an exporter of commodities said we need to increase our exports by promoting our geographical indication (GI) items and also some items which are banned unnecessarily by us but exported by other countries like China, India and Turkey in big quantities. We have to allow exports of jaggery (Gurr), White food grade poppy seeds (Khashkhash). Gurr is exported by India and China and Khashkhash is exported by Turkey. Pakistan is losing business because of the ban on export of these items.

Hussain Ali Ratnani an SME facilitator said Pakistan needs to  reduce imports of luxury goods and non essential items. It is unfortunate that the trading community is importing food stuff although good quality stuff is made in Pakistan. The car importers are also importing luxury cars. It would be beneficial if the commercial importers are encouraged to shift to importing machinery and raw materials for the industrialists instead.

The UNISAME Council stated that It is high time the government takes serious note of curbing and discouraging imports of goods of international standard made in Pakistan  by imposing heavy duty on them. The government also needs to give incentives for import substitution industries