JICA, SMEDA support 52 local auto parts manufacturers

A team of five Japanese experts in collaboration with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has supported 52 local auto parts manufacturers to enhance quality and productivity of their products as per requirement of both local and export markets.
SMEDA General Manager Central Support Fuad Hashim Rabbani revealed this while speaking at the concluding ceremony of a technical support programme organized of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in collaboration with SMEDA for local auto parts manufacturing industry. JICA senior representatives Y Onoe, Hiroshi KANEKI, SMEDA officials Ashfaq Ahmed, General Manager B&SDS, Mukesh Kumar, Provincial Chief Sindh and Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts & Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM) Chairman Muhammad Ashraf Shaikh also spoke on the occasion while Secretary, Sindh Industries and Commerce Department was chief guest of the ceremony.
Ashfaq Ahmed speaking on the occasion elaborated various initiatives of the SMEDA's Industry Support Cell to improve productivity, quality and energy efficiency of SMEs of varied nature of sectors through foreign experts. He said that a large number of auto parts manufacturers were nominated by PAAPAM and OEM's that indicates the importance of this project for auto parts manufacturing industry.
He further said that during the project tenure of 4 years, 52 targets suppliers both in Sindh and Punjab regions were facilitated out of which 17 were selected as model case companies based on their performance and eagerness for implementing KAIZEN activities. He said that JICA experts had played a tremendous role for making those companies self-sufficient.
Chief of JICA experts' team, Hiroshi KANEKI briefed about the various activities carried out during 2nd term along with results achieved after implementing various Japanese tools and techniques. Pakistan auto part manufacturing sector has huge potential to compete in the international market by focusing on manufacturing systems and improving productivity & quality of their products through KAIZEN activities, KANEKI opined.
Y Onoe, senior representatives assured the stakeholders that JICA would continue its technical support for auto parts industry of Pakistan for manufacturing quality products and to make them more competitive in world market.
Sindh Secretary Industries and Commerce Abdul Haleem congratulated SMEDA, JICA and PAAPAM for initiating such an important project. He added, the world is controlled by technology and unfortunately we are still lacking in it.
He appreciated the efforts and assistance of Japanese experts for our local manufacturers towards producing quality products to meet OEMs' requirements and showed his extreme satisfaction on the impressive progress of the project. He acknowledged various initiatives undertaken by SMEDA for SME development and expected similar support in future especially through provision of international experts.
PAAPAM Chairman Muhammad Ashraf Shaikh described the current situation of automobile industry and stressed the need for joint ventures and technical assistance with foreign countries. He requested the JICA officials for permanent availability of Japanese technical advisors in Pakistan.