The Federal government is endeavouring to accelerate the pace of business activities and to evolve development strategy for seven different business sectors, said the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda), Shahab Khwaja here on Friday.
Addressing a meeting held here he said that the aim of discussion on different aspects was to get the feedback of the business community engaged in sports goods industry of Sialkot.
The valuable discussion, he said, would pave the way for formulating the 'Sports Goods Sector Development Strategy' in accordance with the aspirations and needs of the industry.
Under the programme the government would provide facilities like skill training, marketing and technologies to sports goods industry, he said. He asked the businessmen to freely express their views and needs for the development of the industry as their feedback was very important for assessing the need and requirements of the industry.
Chairman, Departmental Committee on Sports Goods of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Musharraf Iqbal, said that it was a matter of great encouragement that the government had initiated a plan for the uplift of sports goods sector. He said that seeking the input of stakeholders in the form of feedback on the problems this sector is facing and recommendation for the uplift is undoubtedly a correct step.
He said the sports goods industry of Sialkot is totally export-oriented manufacturing and supplying soccer balls, hockey sticks, cricket bats and cricket gear, martial arts uniform etc to all international brands which is a proof of the high standard and quality of the products of this industry. The industry needs full support of the government, especially for its upgradation to cope with the requirements of changing trends in the global market, he added.
About other challenges he said that presently the soccer ball industry is facing a big test to successfully counter the change posed by introduction of mechanised ball called 'Roterio Ball' which had already been played in European Championship 2004.
He said that sports goods industry needs financial and technical support from the government to effectively face this ominous challenge. Musharraf also pinpointed other areas like technical training, forceful marketing techniques in which government can play an instrumental role for the uplift of the sports goods industry.
The capacity building and up-gradation of the industry, especially the export based industry is a continuous exercise but there are circumstances where total change of machinery and production processes is required which the industry itself cannot afford and looks towards the government for help, he said.
The President of SCCI, Qaiser Shabbir, Chairman, Sports Goods Association, Younis Ratra, former presidents of SCCI and leading exporters of sports goods industry also attended the meeting.
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