Lahore, November 20, 2009

Australian business community would be urged to exploit joint venture opportunities emerged through development strategies of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) in SME sector of Paksitan. It was stated by Ms. Fauzia Nasreen, Pakistan’s High Commissioner designated to Australia at a meeting with Mr. Shahid Rashid, Chief Executive Officer, SMEDA. Mr. Iftikhar Hussain, General Manager, Central Support Division, Mr. Muhammad Jamil Afaqi, General Manager, Policy and Planning Division and a number of the senior officials of SMEDA also attended the meeting held at SMEDA Head Office.

Ms. Fauzia Nasreen said that while working as Pakistan’s Diplomat in Italy and Poland, she had noticed the prime importance of SMEs in development of the European countries. The governments of the developed countries give priority consideration to the SME sector while creating new development policies and resources, she said adding that Pakistan, too, need a paradigm shift to the SME sector. She was glad to know about the work done by SMEDA on this sector. She acknowledged that the SMEDA efforts had created a number of new business opportunities in the country in SME sector. She assured to pave way for joint ventures between Australia and Pakistan in the fields of Dairy, Marble & Granite and Agro-food industry soon after joining the office of Pakistan’s High Commissioner in Australia.

Earlier, Mr. Shahid Rashid, Chief Executive Officer of SMEDA welcomed the guest and apprised her about efforts made by his organization on SME development during its first decade of operation. He said that SMEDA had recently entered into Public Sector Development Projects (PSDP) besides making development strategies and extending hand-holding services to the SMEs in Pakistan. He disclosed that the government had granted approval for 20 PSDP Projects to SMEDA so far, which include; Agro- food Processing Plant (AFP), Multan; Gujranwala Business Center (GBC); Women Business Center (WBIC), Lahore; Washing and Pressing Unit, Matta Mughal Khel; SME Subcontracting Exchange, Gujranwala; Sports Industries Development Center (SIDC), Sialkot; Glass Products Designing and Manufacturing Center, Hyderabad; Foundry Services Center, Lahore; Women Business Development Centers in Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta; CTFC for Agri Implements, Mardan; Khaddi Crafts Development Project, Multan; Leather Crafts Development Project, Multan; SME Policy Project Implementation, Monitoring & Evaluation Unit, Lahore.

 Liaqat Ali Gohar

Deputy General Manager (Admin.& PR)