LAHORE
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) is devising a long-term programme to help Pakistan’s SMEs, enabling them to meet global standards for export markets.
The program was discussed at a meeting held today with CEO SMEDA Sher Ayub Khan in the chair, who was informed that the programme was being evolved in collaboration with Netherlands’ Expert Organisation known as “PUM”.
SMEDA’s Directorate of External Relations In-charge Sheharyar Tahir further informed on this occasion that a joint fact finding mission of SMEDA and PUM had collected insight from the stakeholders of SME sector by holding consultative sessions with a cross-section of the trade bodies to lay down the program.
A senior expert of PUM from Netherlands Odulfus Van Summeren had been working with SMEDA to undertake the consultation process and determine the impediments weighing down the evolution of SMEs in Pakistan. For this purpose, SMEDA had also organised various industry field visits for a complete in-depth analysis of the structure and process of industry.
Taking the benefit of the Dutch associate, SMEDA also arranged counselling sessions with several startups, business incubation centres and chambers of commerce to discuss their constraints and offer on-the spot practical advice based on the expert’s experience of Netherlands.
During multiple meetings with trade bodies, SMEDA was praised by chambers of commerce of Lahore, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad for initiation of a much-needed programme and were of the opinion that PUM program will help SMEs evolve to global standards and make them capable of accessing new potential export markets.
SMEDA CEO Sher Ayub advised the External Relations Directorate of SMEDA to ensure early implementation on the program so as to achieve the set goals at the earliest possible. He hoped that the program will scale up SMEs of Pakistan thus making them capable of exporting goods and adding to export revenues of Pakistan.
It is notable that PUM is a non-profit organisation established in 1978 by the Dutch employers’ federation with financial support from the Netherlands ministry of foreign affairs that has assisted over 40,000 organisations worldwide since 1978.
