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Lahore, October 14, 2014 (PPI-OT): Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has agreed to undertake a four year technical support program in collaboration with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) for quality and productivity enhancement of the Auto Parts Manufacturing Industry of Pakistan.
A written understanding for implementation of the project was developed the other day, which was signed by Ms. Shaista Sohail, Joint Secretary, Economic Affairs Division (EAD), Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad, Sr. Joint Secretary, Ministry of Industries and Production (MoI and P), Mr. Muhammad Alamgir Chaudhry, CEO SMEDA on behalf of the government of Pakistan. Whereas, on behalf of the government of Japan, Mr. MotooTaki, Leader Detailed Survey Team of JICA signed the document of understanding.
JICA will undertake a four years program to extend technical support to about 50 Auto Parts manufacturing units in Pakistan to upgrade their facilities. The program will be conducted by five JICA Technical Experts who are expected to arrive in Pakistan in April 2015. The visiting Japanese experts will also hold a series of workshops both in Punjab and Sindh on productivity and quality enhancement in auto sector of Pakistan.
Giving background of the aforementioned technical assistance program of JJICA, CEO SMEDA Mr. Muhammad Alamgir Chaudhry informed that Auto sector was one of the fastest growing sectors in Pakistan.
It contributes a lot towards the national economy through employment and revenue generation and the local vendors deem to play an important role in the growth of auto industry as they bear the responsibility of producing auto parts and sub-assemblies according to the bench mark set by the respective Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), he said adding that on the other hand, local auto parts manufacturing industry is still in the process of development and lacking competitiveness in terms of quality, cost and flexibility of manufacturing systems.
It is to note that SMEDA has been collaborating with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) since 2004 to conduit best productivity and quality improvement knowledge and practices to the indigenous manufacturers belonging to various sectors.
In this connection SMEDA requested to Government of Japan (GOJ) for initiating a long term technical support of Japanese way of improving productivity and quality. SMEDA aims to broaden the scope of productivity improvement activities across the value chain of auto sector and subsequently improving the share of localization of auto parts.
A JICA detailed planning mission visited Pakistan from September22, 2014 till October 10, 2014. The purpose of the mission was to formulate the details of the subject project in close coordination with SMEDA.
Apart from detailed discussions held with SMEDA, JICA Survey Mission also visited 11 auto parts manufacturing units and conducted series of meetings with Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM) and a number of OEMs both at Lahore and Karachi. The points emerged out of these meetings were recorded as a formal minutes of meetings, which were finally signed by the representatives of SMEDA, EAD, MOIP and JICA.
For more information, contact:
Liaqat Ali Gohar
DGM (Admin. and PR)
Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA)
4th Floor, Building No. 3, Aiwan-e-Iqbal Complex,
Egerton Road, Lahore
Tel: +92-42-111-111-456
Fax: +92-42-36304926-7
Email: aligohar@smeda.org.pk, helpdesk@smeda.org.pk
Website: www.smeda.org.pk
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