The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (Unisame) in a message to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has invited his attention to the urgent need of setting up a SMEs Chamber of Commerce for promotion and development of the rebuilding process in the areas affected by the earthquake.
Zulfikar Thaver, President of Unisame, said that the request for setting up SME Chamber of Commerce & Industry had been turned down by Director, Trade Organisation (DTO) on the grounds that a Small Industries Association already exists and another SME Chamber was not necessary.
He said the DTO failed to comprehend the difference in the functions of an association and a chamber. An association has a limited role and can interact with its members and related bodies on inland basis only whereas a chamber of commerce has international affiliations and connections and is recognised by corresponding chambers accordingly. All chambers of the world are interconnected and send their literature to one another and their libraries are accessible to other chambers. He added that foreign connections are desperately needed for obtaining technology in construction and building materials.
Additionally, the proposed chamber would facilitate the members in securing collaboration arrangements with overseas businessmen and arrange their visits for the mutual benefit of the local and foreign investors in new cities.
He said that integrated efforts are required by Small & Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda), the National Productivity Organisation (NPO), Pakistan Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (PCSIR) and Unisame for a full-fledged programme.
Thaver stressed the need for broad minded approach and imaginative thinking on the part of the bureaucracy as the rebuilding process is a big task and demands matching vision to overcome disaster.-PR