Chief Executive Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda), Shahid Rashid has said that the first ever and comprehensive SME policy will be implemented in near future.
The policy has been formulated keeping in view the problems and needs of the SMEs of the country and under the policy credit guarantee fund and sub-contracting exchange would be introduced to facilitate the SMEs, Rashid said.
Talking to Business Recorder here at the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Smeda Chief Executive said that implementation of the policy will activate more SMEs and ensure rapid development in this sector. Rashid revealed that an Agro Food Processing Facilities centre with a cost of Rs20 crore is being set up in Multan with the aim to provide processing facilities for pulp extraction of various fruits like mango, guava etc. The construction work of the centre would be completed by June next and machinery for the said centre is being imported from Italy, he added.
He said that the project will also facilitate local growers to prepare tomato paste and puree, lead to value addition, and help reduce post harvest losses currently estimated at 30 percent, with the introduction of latest technology.
The proposed centre will expose growers to the latest fruit and vegetable-processing techniques that can add value to the products and fetch increased foreign exchange through exports, Rashid added.
Smeda chief further disclosed that a Business Centre at Gujranwala would be operational in May next adding that this centre has been established jointly by Smeda and Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) at a cost of Rs20 crore, which will provide a single promotional and display platform for the wide range of products manufactured in that region, to attract national and international buyers.
Rashid said that Women Business Incubation Centre has been established in Lahore and this cell is making strenuous efforts for resolving the women entrepreneurs problems and extending hand-on support including business infrastructure, fully furnished offices with the facility of telephone and internet facilities, display area for exhibition purposes, administrative and business development support to encourage female participation in economic development.
He said that a Sports Industries Development Centre at a cost of Rs272.61 million will be set up in Sialkot enabling the sports goods sector to adopt the new mechanised ball technology which is threatening the current hand-stitched inflatable soccer ball. Work on the proposed centre, he added will be initiated shortly and completed within a year.
Rashid further said that the centre with a production capacity of 3,500 balls per day would provide technical know-how and a trained labour force. He said that work on other projects including Product Development Centre for composite based sports goods and Sialkot Business and Commerce Centre will be initiated shortly.