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Over 13 governmental and non-governmental bodies, responding to a proposal floated by the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (Smeda), have decided to form an SME Networking Group (SMENG)- a common platform for promotion of the SME sector in the country.
According to a spokesman of Smeda, the decision came up Thursday at a joint meeting of various governmental and non-governmental organisations held with Shahab Khawaja, Chief Executive Officer of Smeda in the chair.
Representatives from the Board of Investment, State Bank of Pakistan, Central Board of Revenue, Export Promotion Bureau, SME Bank Limited, Punjab Small Industries corporation, Small and Medium Enterprise Center (SMEC), LUMS, Sarhad Small Industries Development Board, and the Bank of Punjab attended the meeting.
In this meeting a consensus has been achieved that SME Networking Group will provide an institutional mechanism and forum for the regular sharing of information and resources.
This forum will provide a unified platform for enhancing the effectiveness of current and future SME development programs and activities in Pakistan.
It was also decided that SME Networking Group will have a secretariat in Smeda and a small team will be handling its functioning.
The meeting unanimously decided to get an MoU finalised by the participating organisations within next two weeks so as to emerge SMENG a formal joint body with its secretariat at Smeda head office. SMENG aims at drawing upon the extensive institutional expertise and collaborate for business promotion with special focus on SMEs through programs of respective competence.
One such program may be to establish Business Incubators for SMEs thus resulting in the creation of employment, export promotion and poverty alleviation.
SMENG will assist in overcoming common problems, achieving collective efficiency and expanding services by putting in resources together.
The collaboration would set a good precedent of co-operation among institutions and support agencies. It will also usher in a new era of institutional co-operation for the promotion of SMEs in Pakistan.
Shahab Khawaja, CEO of Smeda, while addressing the participants on this occasion hoped that the success of this strategic alliance is expected to open new vistas of opportunities for SMEs and fill the gaps in the supply of financial and non-financial business services.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2004

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