AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Lahore, July 18, 2019 (PPI-OT): Japan’s technical support has helped local Auto Parts manufacturers to get prepared for export market by improving quality and productivity of their products as per world’s requirements. It was stated by Mr. Fuad Hashim Rabbani, General Manager-Central Support of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) while addressing a ceremony held at a local hotel today to commemorate completion of the 2nd term of SMEDA-JICA joint project for technical support of the Auto Parts Manufacturing Industry in Pakistan.
Mr. Shigeki FURUTA, Chief Representative of JICA attended the ceremony as Chief Guest. The ceremony was also addressed by Ms. Eina UENO, Project Formulation Advisor of JICA, Mr. Yosihiro KANEKI, Expert of JICA Team, Mr. Basharat Javed, Vice Chairman PAAPAM and Mr. Ashfaq Ahmad, SMEDA’s General Manager, Business and Sector Development.
Mr. Fuad Hashim, while delivering the address of welcome, congratulated JICA, PAAPAM and SMEDA team to complete second term of the four year project with tangible improvement in productivity and quality of the auto parts production in Pakistan. He informed that Auto Sector is one the rapid growing sectors in Pakistan. Its contribution towards the national economy in the form of technology transfer, employment and revenue generation is visible, he said and appreciated that local vendors had accepted the challenge of producing auto parts and sub-assemblies complying with the benchmark set by the respective Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
But, the local auto parts manufacturing industry was lacking competitiveness in terms of quality, cost and flexibility of manufacturing systems, which have now been addressed with the support of JICA, he said and expressed satisfaction over completion of the 2nd Term of SMEDA-JICA four years project, which had drastically reduced the inefficiencies of production and quality in the local Auto Parts Manufacturing industry. Mr. Fuad Hashim applauded the efforts of participating PAAPAM members towards implementing various measures suggested by the Japanese Experts that have resulted in considerable reduction of wastages. He was confident that under this project sizeable number of Auto Parts manufacturers would emerge as Role Model Companies in the field of Productivity and Quality.
Mr. Shigeki FURUTA, Chief Representative of JICA, in his address, assured to continue the technical support for Pakistan’s industry to compete the world market in respect to technical know-how and the modern manufacturing techniques. He informed that to implement SMEDA-JICA project for technical support of the Auto Parts Manufacturing industry of Pakistan, a team of five Japanese experts having more than 40 years’ experience in Auto industry was brought to Pakistan for a long period up to 4 years.
He acknowledged that JICA’s collaboration with SMEDA and PAAPAM had proved to be very useful for the local Auto parts’ manufacturing industry. He was glad to note that productivity of the sector had increased to an optimal level, whereas, the rejection rates to be witnessed in the manufacturing processes had reduced to the lowest possible level. He said that the SMEs, engaged in auto parts manufacturing, had a great potential to compete the world market and assured to extend the fullest technical support of JICA to impart the best practices being exercised in auto sector of the developed world.
Mr. Basharat Javed, Vice Chairman PAAPAM appreciated SMEDA initiative to get JICA’s technical cooperation for Auto Parts Industry. He said that PAAPAM members had greatly availed of the assistance to increase their productivity and reduce rejection rates in their manufacturing processes. He urged SMEDA and JICA to continue the program even after completion of the set period.
Mr. Ashfaq Ahmad, General Manager and Incharge Industry Support Cell of SMEDA, in his address, informed that under the project technical assistance have been provided to 52 target suppliers nominated by PAAPAM and various OEMs by the Japanese experts and successfully resolved various issued related to production and quality inefficiencies. He told that considering eagerness of Auto Parts Manufacturers and implementation status of KAIZEN activities, 17 target suppliers had been selected as model companies as against of 10.
For more information, contact:
DGM (Admin. and PR)
Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA)
4th Floor, Building No.3, Aiwan-e-Iqbal Complex,
Egerton Road, Lahore, Pakistan
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