AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Lahore, January 13, 2014 (PPI-OT): Mr. Ghulam Murtaza Khan Jatoi, Federal Minister Industries and Production has assured to include a number of the initiatives of five-year SME development Plan evolved by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA). While chairing an important meeting at SMEDA head office today, he informed that the consultative process on Industrial Policy was in progress and policy would be announced after ensuring comprehensive consultation with all stakeholders of the industry.
Sardar Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera, CEO SMEDA gave a detailed briefing to the Minister on SMEDA’s projects and services. Mr. Sultan Tiwana, GM-Business and Sector Development Services, Mr. Alamgir Chaudry, GM, Outreach, Dr. Nasir Khan Ghauri, GM, Monitoring and Evaluation, Raja Hassanien Javed, Provincial Chief, SMEDA, Punjab and Ms. Nadia Jahangir, DGM, Policy and Planning also attended the meeting.
Whereas, the Minister was accompanied by Mr. Muhammad Idrees Mian, Director Ministry of Industries and Production on this occasion.
The Minister appreciated SMEDA’s role in the Prime Minister’s Youth Business Loan Program. He was impressed to learn that SMEDA’s website had recorded more than 8 million downloads in this regard. He was confident that the scheme would help curb unemployment in the country. He hoped that the overall benefit of the scheme would generate jobs for about 5-6 lacs families reflecting the multiplied effect to over 2-3 millions peoples in the country.
Earlier, the Minister visited the help desk set up by SMEDA in the head office for assistance and consultation of the prospective applicants of the PMYBL. The Minister expressed satisfaction over the way applicants were being guided by SMEDA staff.
The Minister also watched capacity- building- training -program to be run by UNIDO in collaboration with SMEDA on this occasion.
Later, talking to the media during a round of Foundry Service Centre (FSC)-a SMEDA developed project, Mr. Ghulam Murtaza Khan Jatoi said that the government was opting for a long term solution to the energy crisis focusing on the low cost generation of electricity. He was confident that the government endeavours would be able to end the energy crisis within next four years.
The Minister, besides examining different departments of FSC, also exchanged views with a group of industrialists at the FSC. The office bearers of Pakistan Foundry Association appreciated role of SMEDA in establishing the Centre in collaboration with UET as well as the industry stakeholders on this occasion.
Press Release: Common Training Program (CTP) from 12 occupational groups of the Federal Civil Services, visited the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA)
Lahore, January 6, 2014
A delegation, comprising 14 probationary officers of 41st Common Training Program (CTP) from 12 occupational groups of the Federal Civil Services, visited the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) head office today to study working of the organization. Sardar Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera, CEO SMEDA delivered the address of welcome in honour of the delegates and apprised them about role of SMEDA in development of SME sector in Pakistan. Mr. Shahid Gul Qureshi, Diretor, CTP led the visiting delegation on this occasion.
CEO SMEDA also highlighted the current initiatives to be taken by his organization for SME development in the country. He especially referred to SMEDA’s five year SME Development Plan in this regard. He explained that SMEDA had prioritized 13 sectors for development interventions by conducting Value chain analysis for each sector and identifying game changers that can transform the entire dynamic of the sector to accrue benefits across the entire sector.
He said that extensive consultation with private sector stakeholders was held while developing the plan. The priority sectors of the plan include, Food, Agriculture, Logistic, Gems and Jewellery, Information Technology and Allied Services, Construction, Engineering, Energy, Leather, Mineral, Tourism and Textile, he added.
CEO SMEDA said, “The most serious problem to be faced by the local SMEs is their limited access to finance”. To fill in this gap, he said, SMEDA is developing rapport with the national and international organizations. A number of the MOUs have been signed with various organizations, the most recent of which is an MOU with “The Abraaj Group, a leading regionally based private equity firm operating in the growth markets of Asia, Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.
CEO SMEDA disclosed that the Abraaj Group, under the MOU with SMEDA, was creating a fund to help local SMEs’ access to capital. The Pakistan focused fund is being created with the support of USAID sponsored Pakistan-Private-Investment-Initiative.
CEO SMEDA also highlighted the role of SMEDA in Prime Minister’s Youth Business Program. He said that SMEDA had been given the lead advisory role in implementation of the Prime Minister’s Youth Business Loan Program.
Since the program is purely based on small businesses, SMEDA has uploaded 56 pre-feasibility studies in eight major sectors, exclusively for the PMYBL on its website, which are available for free of cost downloads, he said adding that the pre-feasibilities studies belong to the eight business sectors including Engineering and Manufacturing, Information Technology, Agriculture, Fruit Processing, Livestock, Food, Services and Minerals. These Pre-feasibility studies are also available in Urdu on SMEDA website “www.smeda.org.pk”, he said.
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