Union of Small and Medium Enterprises invite chambers and trade associations for active support in small and medium enterprises development

Karachi, January 25, 2014 (PPI-OT): The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) is looking to active support from chambers of commerce and industries and trade associations for SME development and promotion and has invited them to send their proposals and recommendations for submission to the ministries of finance, industries and production and commerce.

President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said the union is working for the cause of the SMEs since many years and voicing their concerns and requirements. He said on receipt of the inputs from the chambers and trade associations UNISAME will submit them to the ministries for considerations in the budget, trade and industrial policies through the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA).

He said the union has already informed the government that it is very important that the policies made by the earlier governments need to be revisited and implemented on merit. The policies made by the previous governments with huge expenses are not yet implemented and deserve the immediate attention of the government.

Thaver pointed out that institutions like the Exim bank, the SME credit insurance, the venture capital fund, the SME export house and SME Ombudsman included in the earlier policies framed by the previous government have not been implemented although they are crucial for the development and promotion of the sector. The security in the industrial estates is lacking and a collective security force is required in the industrial areas with increased level of monitoring and vigilance.

He elaborated that the government needs to give definite agenda to all foreign missions to promote trade by introducing Pakistani goods abroad. In fact the union gave a road map for rapid promotion and development and suggested modernization of farms, agro-based industries,facilitation of value addition and import substitution industries. The union also recommended 0 duty on alternate energy devices and very low duties on raw materials and packing materials. The new entrants need tax holiday and the existing units incentives for modernization.

UNISAME recommended setting up of industrial zones, promotion of Islamic asset based financing and facilitating transfer of technology. UNISAME stated that in most of the chambers and trade associations the SMEs are the majority members but are governed by the big industrialist who are in the minority just like the country where the parliaments comprises of members who are landlords and big business owners.

Nevertheless the union expressed thanks to those chambers and trade associations who are making sincere efforts to promote their SME members and advocating the cause of the SMEs. The union demanded priority for SME sector and also the housing industry and urged the government to give priority to both.

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