SMEs urge chambers of commerce and industry to do more for sector

Karachi, September 17, 2018 (PPI-OT): The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has urged the various chamber of commerce and industries to do more for their SME members and advocate their cause for priority and facilitation for fast track promotion to face global challenges. President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said the micro to medium sized entrepreneurs form the majority membership in all the chambers of commerce and industries and by virtue of their strength deserve the best attention of the committee members of the chambers but unfortunately they are not given the best attention.

Thaver said the chambers facilitate the members by issuing certificate of origin and letters of recommendations for visas and some publish news bulletins. This is not enough, the SMEs expect the chambers to advocate their cause and take up matters of access to finance, uninterrupted supply of energy, facilities and support for installing alternate energy devices, reduction of import duties on raw material, relief in taxation, exemption for new units, getting land at concession in industrial zones.

He reiterated that cost of doing business and ease of doing business are very important considerations. The cost of production is very high due to high cost of fuel and utilities. The chambers need to invite the attention of the policy makers to the issues. The SMEs complained that they are approached at the time of the annual elections but then soon forgotten and ignored. The trade leaders hold photo sessions and dinners but do not address the core issues seriously.

There is no doubt that some chambers hold meetings and invite the federal secretaries and ministers and people who matter but mere speeches and presentations remain ineffective unless pursued vigorously. The chambers need to create awareness, identify impediments and suggest remedies he said.

UNISAME pointed out that all international chambers have the facility of transfer of technology, joint ventures, collaboration and marketing support for their members but unfortunately Pakistani chambers lack the expertise. Some noteworthy chambers also guide their members to upgrade and go to the next level.

The Union chief urged the chambers to enroll for capacity building and set up centre of excellence (CoE) with the help of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA). The chambers need to modernize and enhance their size and scope to cater to the thousands of their members. The SMEs are more than 3 million in all the chambers of Pakistan and surely deserve support for promotion of trade and industry in their respective spheres.

For more information, contact:
Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME)
75/1 3rd Commercial Street,
Phase IV, D.H.A., Karachi, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-35884225-6
Fax: +92-21-35380642
Cell: +92-300-8245307, +92-321-8245307
Email: unisame@gmail.com