UNISAME ESTABLISHES e-COMMERCE CENTRE UNDER COLLABORATION

The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) with the help and support of local and international entrepreneurs launched its pilot project known as e-Commerce Centre basically a complete internet services centre for SMEs under the management of Salman Merchant a U.K based information technology (IT) expert The centre is sponsored by SMILE Pvt Ltd, and REZEL Consultancy Ltd and enjoys the institutional support of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA).

Salman Merchant convener e-Commerce UNISAME gave a presentation and explained the aim and objectives of the e-Commerce Centre and answered the questions of the participants regarding e-Commerce facilities for SMEs, web designing, hosting, maintenance, the online displays of SMEs products, marketing support and development of systems for SMEs for cyber securities. Salman outlined his plans of helping Pakistanis secure jobs in U.K and said he is working on several internet systems for the benefit of Pakistanis and step by step he would launch his projects.

He said the e-Commerce centre is open for SMEs who can seek support and guidance from the centre for their solutions.He said the basic idea is to facilitate the SMEs to exhibit their products globally, sell their products online both locally and in global markets.

Muslim Raza Rawjani provincial chief SMEDA who performed the opening of the centre congratulated president UNISAME, Salman Merchant regional director and his entire team on launching the project for the benefit of the SMEs. He offered full support and help from SMEDA and said such e-Commerce centres are required all over the country for the promotion of exports of SME products.

President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said IT knowledge is the need of the hour and a very important tool for SME promotion and development and said that UNISAME is fortunate to have experts like Salman Merchant to promote e-Commerce in Pakistan.

He called upon the Ministry of Information and Technology to take the subject of e-Commerce very seriously and expressed surprise as to why the planning ministry did not give the IT promotion its due recognition in the Vision 2025 despite UNISAME demanding promotion of e-Commerce vigorously in the SME Growth Conference held recently and chaired by Prof Ahsan Iqbal the federal planning minister. He urged the ministry to include Salman Merchant UNISAME convener in its e-Commerce committee for fast track job on e-Commerce.

Atiqurahman adviser to Karachi Chamber of Commerce on SMEs expressed satisfaction and appreciation for the facilities provided by the centre.

Atiqua Vally president Rotary Club said e-Commerce calls for immediate attention of the policy makers and they really need to facilitate SMEs for online global marketing, for receiving payments smoothly from overseas buyers.
She urged the entrepreneurs to deliver the goods as per promise and maintain quality and international standards.

Irfan Bandukda convener SME Farmers Association appreciated the efforts of UNISAME and endorsed the plans of UNISAME for educating the SMEs about IT, e-Commerce, having their websites and teaching them to move to the next level. He urged Salman Merchant to work on commodities and farm produce items and for supporting the agro-based industries in developing their brands. He said the SME farmers could also be educated online regarding modern systems of irrigation and cultivation.

Prominent traders namely Saleem Merchant, Ali Haider, Nazim Adenwalla,Masoom Ali Allahrakha, Abbas Zaidi,Raza Sayani, Muhammad Raza Khandwalla and Aqeel Bhanji participated in the discussions wholeheartedly and appreciated the facilities to be provided to SMEs for e-Commerce.

Posted in: Press Releases