The Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (Smeda and Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation on Thursday.
General Manager, Operation and Outreach Smeda, Syed Iqbal Kidwai and KCCI President Haroon Farooki signed the agreement on behalf of their repercussive organisations.
The MoU said: 1. Both the parties shall collaborate and endeavour to identify the priority areas of the services needed by the chamber's members, especially SMEs.
2. The parties shall cooperate for the promotion, awareness and dissemination of information regarding legal rights, privileges and requirements/compliance amongst SMEs.
3. The parties shall create and raise awareness by conducting seminars/workshops and training courses for business community in general and SMEs in particular for the development of entrepreneurial culture. These seminars/workshops and training courses must have nexus with the need assessment of SMEs.
4. The parties shall on quarterly basis do review the need assessment of SMEs pertaining to the requirement and provision of services thereto.
For this purpose the KCCI shall, in a time frame to be decided mutually, after the signing of MoU, nominate a focal point for collaboration and co-operation with Smeda.
5. Smeda shall in active consultation and collaboration of KCCI holds, conduct and facilitate training courses for the development, enhancement and up-gradation of managerial, legal, marketing, technical and e-business skills and understanding amongst the SMEs in specific and trade and industry in general. These training courses shall preferably be conducted at the time and place most suitable for and on the recommendations of the KCCI.
6. Smeda shall render services to KCCI's members in research and development and business development and support services, including facilitation in obtaining loans from the banks by consulting in creating bankable documents.
7. Smeda will also assist KCCI in improving competitiveness of its products and help technological backwardness and introduce the modem management techniques and best business practices.
8. The parties shall collaborate in identification and preparation of pre-feasibility studies to cater for growing requirements of potential investors for setting up viable SMEs.
9. The parties shall work to promote and support research and development activities amongst SMEs not only on sectoral basis but also on individual level wherever needed.
10. The KCCI shall facilitate Smeda for establishment of the office of Smeda regional business co-ordinator (RBC) at the premises of KCCI by providing space, therefore, for that purpose another separate agreement shall be signed by the parties.
11. The parties shall cooperate and work for the identification and removal of legal, fiscal and other irritants impeding the growth of business for SMEs. For this purpose, the parties shall, on regular intervals, arrange, co-ordinate and conduct, interaction inter se the federal and provincial government authorities with the members of trade and industry.
12. The parties shall also cooperate in the exchange of information/requirements/ problems of SMEs pertaining to provision, availability, quality and quantity of the services and devise/ initiate plans, strategies, actions and measures to provide/ address/ensure such information/ requirement/ problem thereof.
13. The parties shall, in order to review the co-operation and co-ordination inter se thereto hold frequent meetings. KCCI shall ensure that these meetings are attended by majority of the members thereof.
14. The costs of activities/projects jointly done by the parties and or other terms and conditions about the mode and manner to carry out such activities/ projects shall be determined on case to case basis through mutual understanding and consent.
15. The KCCI shall individually and in collaboration with Smeda educate, promote and persuade the members thereof as to the availability, quality and quantity of all the services offered by Smeda for the time being.
16. The KCCI shall disseminate to its members the information regarding services provided by Smeda through KCCI website, periodical/journal and all other possible means.
Iqbal Kidwai said that there were over 3.2 million small and medium industries in the country. He said that SME was a backbone of the country and the Smeda striving to cater to the need of this sector and well as assist new comers to establish units in SME sector. He said that Smeda had established desks in 20 cities of the country.