PM URGED TO ACT FAST AS SME SECTOR IN DOLDRUMS

The Financial Daily 8/9/24

The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises
( UNISAME) has expressed concern over delay in Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif’s upgrading program for the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) for the uplift of the sector.
President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said the sector is in doldrums and it is very important and necessary for the PM to have a technocrat well versed in SME promotion and development as an advisor who could advise the PM on remedial measures and steps required for jump start for the sector uplift program. In this connection he suggested the name of Shahab Khwaja an ex senior bureaucrat who has worked as CEO SMEDA and later as federal secretary ministry of Industries and Production.
Thaver said SMEDA also needs to have a
co-ordination committee for active coordination and special initiatives between SMEDA and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Ministries of Finance and Commerce, PCSIR, TDAP, EDO, Information Technology, FBR and other institutions for kick start and fast track development under friendly policies and plans.
Secondly since the SME Ombudsman’s appointment as promised in the SME policy has been overlooked a committee is needed to provide free legal aid for protection of rights of SMEs and also dispute resolution.
Thirdly the sector urgently needs an SME Gallery and a B2B portal to exhibit the products manufactured by the SMEs and global contact with buyers for promotion of exports.
Fourthly the SMEs need motivation besides facilities, encouragement, support and help and it is the incumbent duty of SMEDA to impress upon the government to take measures for cost of doing and ease of doing business.

Posted in: Press Releases