Textile sector: government must devise strategy for upgrade existing SMEs: FCCI chief

The government must devise a workable strategy for the up gradation of existing SMEs working under textile sector, said Syed Zia Alumdar Hussain, President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI). He stated this while addressing the 3rd "Knit to Achieve" event in which innovative products developed by the students of the knitwear department of the National Textile University of Faisalabad (NTU) were displayed.
Syed Zia said, "This city is contributing 20% share towards the total national exports in addition to the 45% share in the total textile exports of the country." He told that Faisalabad has state-of-the-art textile composite units in textile and other sectors, but the real economic strength of this city rests with its SME sector.
He said that value addition in these units is imperative not only for their own survival but also for the development of Pakistan.
He said that NTU is the prime institute of textile sector as it has highly qualified faculty and latest laboratories. He further said that major units have their own dedicated labs and R&D sections but the small units could not afford this luxury due to financial constraints.
He urged upon the experts to develop cheap technology to introduce value addition in SME sector. He said that this technology could be specially designed for its easy assimilation by the SME sector without adding any additional financial burden on these units.
Mian Muhammad Adrees, former president of Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) said that soft image of Pakistan should be promoted at international level to give quantum jump to our exports.
He said that we must ensure best environment to our employees so that they could feel comfortable and prefer to stay with their employers.
Robeena Amjad, President Faisalabad Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FWCCI) also participated in this meeting while they also visited the stalls and appreciated the innovative products developed by the students of Knitwear Department of the NTU.