South Africa has expressed its keen interest to expand industrial and commercial relations with Pakistan in the SME sector. South African Deputy High Commissioner Cassim Peer made this comment during a meeting at Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA).
He was leading a six-member trade development delegation, which held meeting with SMEDA officials. Chief Executive SDMA chaired the meeting. The visiting delegation included Williem van der Spuy, Director Bilateral Relation, Yunush Hoosen, Director Investment Promotion and Facilitation, Ms Nozizwe vundla, Dy. Director, Asia Bilateral Relations, Ms Dudu Thuke, Dy. Director, Department of Agriculture, Syed Shahid Ali, Honorary Consul of South Africa and Qaiser Abbas, Trade Officer of the South African High Commission.
On SMEDA side, Iftikhar Hussain, GM (Central Support), Syed Iqbal A. Kidwai, GM (Out-Reach) and a number of other experts were present on this occasion. Cassim Peer informed that Joint Commission of Pakistan and South Africa that met in March last had decided to initiate exchange of trade delegations to look at the opportunities of joint ventures between the two countries.
The current delegation of South Africa, he said, was an opening at their end to implement the decision. "The delegation is focusing its attention to review policies as well as the potential sectors of business and industry available in Pakistan for joint ventures and mutual cooperation, he added.
He hoped that by meeting with the organisations like SMEDA, his delegation would be able to identify the potential areas for joint ventures in commercial and industrial sectors of Pakistan.
Earlier, Shahid Rashid, Chief Executive Officer of SMEDA paid a warm reception to members of the South African Delegation and apprised them about the conducive policy environment set by the present government for doing a hassle-free business in Pakistan.
He said that SMEDA had developed comprehensive development strategies for Gems & Jewellery, Marble & Granite, Dairy, Furniture, Surgical Instruments and Hunting Arms sector.
Whereas, a number of the new potential sectors like Sports Goods, Leather, Pharmaceutical and Fan Manufacturing were also being developed on the same pattern, he added and invited South African Businessmen to avail the opportunities of trade and investment existed in these sectors. Syed Shahid Ali, Honorary Consul of South Africa drew attention of the delegation towards possibilities of joint ventures in Solar Energy and Bio Gas production.
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