UNISAME says what good is SMEDA if it cannot voice the concerns of the SMEs

The Financial Daily 13/09/24

The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has urged the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) Socrat Aman Rana to strongly voice the concerns of the sector and impress upon the prime minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif to fulfill the requirements of the majority sector for rapid economic growth.
President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said the CEO SMEDA is now in a position to communicate directly with the PM and as such should communicate the urgent requirements of the majority sector to enable him to approve the same.
Thaver said what good is SMEDA if it cannot voice the requirements of the SMEs and serve the sector as per its articles and memorandum. The aim and objective of SMEDA is promotion and development and not just be a consultative body.
Thaver said since increasing exports is the top most priority of the government, therefore it is of prime importance to set up an export window to promote SME wares.
All SME units who wish to export goods to global countries may contact SMEDA and their goods must be exhibited in global markets.
Secondly a co-ordination committee must be set up at SMEDA to impress upon institutions and stakeholders to expedite facilities for SMEs.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) needs to pursue PayPal and other popular and reputable institutions to open operations in Pakistan to enable a payment gateway.
The SBP also needs to promote ‘Pay as you earn schemes’. Also buying commercial property under asset based financing.
The SBP also needs to accelerate EXIM Bank, Export Credit Guarantee Insurance and other such related facilities.
The Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Research (PCSIR) and Engineering Development Board can also be motivated by the co-ordination committee to act fast.
The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan
(TDAP) can also be contacted by the committee to develope an application for free global marketing services for the SMEs.
There is a technological gap and the co-ordination committee together with the Planning Commission can arrange for collaborations, joint ventures, partnerships and transfer of technology under CPEC.
The UNISAME Council members have expressed their willingness to offer full co-operation, assistance and help in achieving best results for export promotion, up gradation of SME units, setting up of new units, modernization and co-coordinating with institutions.
Thaver urged the CEO SMEDA to comprehend the fact that the SME sector is under going a very challenging period and if their demands are not met the sector will not come out of doldrums.

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