Federal government is endeavouring to further accelerate the pace of business activities as well as to evolve development strategy for seven different business sectors of the country. Official sources told Business Recorder here on Friday that under the programme, development strategy for sports goods, agro-processing and dairy, engineering, marble and granite, gems, jewellery, furniture and fisheries sectors would be formulated according to the needs and demands engaged with these sectors.
Under the directives of the government the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) has initiated series of meetings with the business community engaged with these sectors for discussing various issues aimed at determining the needs and demands of their respective industrial sectors.
The government under the programme would provide the facilities, like skill training, marketing and technologies to these seven sectors of the country. The exchange of views and discussions with each sector would help in formulating the "Sector Development Strategy" in accordance with aspirations and needs of businessmen engaged with these sectors, sources said.
The feedback of business community engaged with these seven sectors was very important for assessing the needs and requirements of their respective industry and for formulating the sector development strategy.
Meanwhile, talking to Business Recorder the chairman Departmental Committee on Sports Goods of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Khwaja Musharraf Iqbal said, "it is a matter of great encouragement that the government has initiated a plan for uplifting sports goods sector." The input of stakeholders in the form of feedback on the problems of this sector and recommendation for the uplift was sought, which undoubtedly was the correct step, he said.
Khwaja Musharraf said: "The sports goods industry of Sialkot is totally export based supplying soccer balls, hockey sticks, cricket bats and cricket gear, martial arts uniform etc to all international brands that itself is a proof of the high standards and quality of the production of this industry."
"The industry needs the full support of the government, especially for its upgradation, to cope with the requirements of changing trends in the global market," he said.
CHALLENGES: Pinpointing the 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 Companionship 2004.
"The financial and technical support of the government at this juncture is direly needed to successfully face this ominous challenge, besides other areas like technical training, vigorous marketing techniques in which the government can play an instrumental role for the uplift of the sports goods industry of Sialkot, he said.
The business community engaged with sports goods industry is unable to undertake the process of capacity building and upgradation of the industry, especially the export-based
industry is a continuous exercise but there are circumstances where a total change of machinery and production processes is required, which industry itself cannot afford, he said.
For this purpose, the business community called for the government support for undertaking upgradation and capacity building of the industry.