German development organisation, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority initiate joint project that will enable saving of 22,000 MW energy every year

Lahore, November 29, 2012 (PPI-OT): A German development organization “bfz gGmbH” and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) have initiated a joint project titled as “ESPIRE” that will enable local SMEs to save about 22,000 MW energy every year. It was observed at a press conference jointly addressed by Mr. Yousaf Naseem Khokhar, Chief Executive Officer, SMEDA and Mr. Martin Straehle, Project Coordinator, bfz-Germany. From SMEDA, Mr. Khurram Khan, GM-Central Support, Mr. Alamgir Chaudhry, GM- Outreach, Mr. Sultan Tiwana, GM-Policy and Planning and Dr. Nasir Khan Ghauri, GM-Business and Sector Development were also present on this occasion. Whereas, from bfz, Mr. Martin was accompanied by Mr. Salahuddin Farrukh, National Project Manager, Mr. Muhammad Salman Butt, Project Manager for Punjab and Mr. Ahmer Butt, Project Manager for Sindh..

A presentation given by bfz officials revealed that small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) can save 9% of their energy costs with investments that pay back in less than 3 months. This is the average result achieved in 18 SMEs from textile, food processing and pharmaceutical sector in 2012 through energy saving measures implemented under project ESPIRE funded by German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) via Sequa gGmbH, a bfz official said adding that the participating factories from Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad and Sialkot together have realized energy savings of 22,000 MW per annum which corresponds to 53 Million PKR.

The energy services of the ESPIRE project shall be disseminated to150 factories until the end of the project in May 2014 and the selected factories would be supported to start making energy conservation part of their work routine by implementing Energy Management Systems to be introduced under the project.

Project ESPIRE was started by the Vocational Training and Development Centers of the Bavarian Employers’ Association (bfz) gGmbH – one of the largest private providers of vocational training in Germany. The International Division of bfz conducts development cooperation projects on behalf of World Bank, European Union, and the German government in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

In Pakistan bfz gGmbH, along with SMEDA, has also obtained cooperation of Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association (PHMA), Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA), Towel Manufacturers Association of Pakistan (TMA), Federal B Area Association of Trade and Industry (FBATI), North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry (NKATI), and Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI).

Mr. Yousaf Naseem Khokhar, CEO SMEDA, in his concluding remarks, said that SMEDA had expanded collaboration with international development agencies due to lesser financial support from the government of Pakistan for development services in the SME sector. He expressed gratitude to bfz for starting ESPIRE project in Pakistan and assured of the full cooperation of SMEDA to ensure its successful implementation.

For more information, contact:
Liaqat Ali Gohar
DGM (Admin. and PR)
Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA)
6th floor, LDA Plaza, Egerton Road, Lahore
Tel: 111-111-456
Fax: (042) 6304926
Email: helpdesk@smeda.org.pk
Website: www.smeda.org.pk