Pakistan-Italian Trade and Investment Business Forum’s meeting held

Lahore, May 21, 2014 (PPI-OT): The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), through Investment Promotion Unit (IPU), opened a series of business- to- business meetings between Italian and Pakistani entrepreneurs at Pakistan-Italian Trade and Investment Business Forum held today in SMEDA head office with a key note by Mr. Alamgir Chaudhry, Acting Chief Executive Officer, SMEDA.

Mr. Dino Fortunato, from UNIDO ITPO, Rome, Mr. Brian Portelli, from UNIDO Head Office Vienna, Austria and Mr. Imran Chaudhry, National Project Coordinator, IPU were also present on this occasion.

The Acting CEO SMEDA, while welcoming the members of Italian Trade Delegation, appreciated United Nations Industrial Organization (UNIDO) for activating the IPU with Italian Investment. He also applauded the Italian government for allocating funds to promote bilateral trade and joint ventures between business communities of Pakistan and Italy. He assured of the fullest cooperation on behalf of SMEDA in facilitating the business match making of the two nations through IPU.

Mr. Imran Chaudhry, National Project Coordinator, IPU while highlighting the mandate and role of IPU in SME development of Pakistan informed that the Italian trade delegation’s current visit is a part of the IPU’s endeavors for promoting Italian investments in Pakistan under umbrella of SMEDA.

The Italian delegation was comprising representatives of renowned Italian companies including “Bellelli Engineering SPA”, “Faresin Building Division S.P.A” and “Ddway srl gruppo Dedagroup”,which are looking for the local partners dealing in elevator shafts, scaffolding, large earthmoving equipment and management software for retail and fashion industry.

From the local SME sector, representatives of EKL (Engineering Kinetics Limited), HKB, Ashraf Machinery Store, Gaurenttin Engineering, Combine Communication, Zan Industries, Mughal Pakistan, Trans-Teck Pakistan, Taar Technologies, Italian Lifestyle, APPS Geni, Ora Tech System, Saba Carpet, Ashraf Welding House, Sefam private limited, Absol, Time Tex, US-Apparel, LXY Global, Sol Hut and Empower Group discussed the scope of joint ventures with Italian companies.

It is notable that the IPU set up in SMEDA Head office is a tripartite project of SMEDA-UNIDO and government of Italy, which was established in 2013 with an emphasis on Italian Investments in Pakistan. The objective of the project is to assist the local industry through initiation and establishment of direct linkages, technology transfer, exchange of delegates and exposure visits at the selected international trade fairs and exhibitions in both the countries.

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