Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) is going to formulae the first ever SME development strategy for Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The modalities of the proposed strategy were discussed on Thursday at a meeting with Secretary AJK for Industries Labour and Minerals, Muhammad Saleem Bismal who visited Smeda head office along with an official delegation of AJK to identify potential sectors of SMEs requiring Smeda support.
CEO Smeda Sardar Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera welcomed the AJK delegation on this occasion and apprised them about Smeda's projects and services. The AJK Secretary appreciated Smeda for inviting suggestions and opinions across the country to improve Smeda's role in SME development. He expressed gratitude to Smeda management for including AJK in the new five year business plan of Smeda and proposed to evolve development initiatives also for AJK while formulating strategies for mineral, horticulture and tourism sectors in the national plan. He said that AJK was rich in minerals, precious stones, fresh fruits and wood, which had developed a wide base of SME sector. Similarly, he marked the Neelam Valley as a great potential of growth for tourism industry. He was confident that Smeda development strategies focused on AJK could create a large number of new SMEs paving way for plenty of the employments and job opportunities. He also urged Smeda to extend its support for capacity building of the existing SMEs in AJK.
The Secretary proposed to sign an MoU with Smeda to formulate a comprehensive strategy for development of SMEs in AJK. He said that Chief Secretary AJK would soon visit Smeda to sign the requisite MoU. He was confident that the proposed MoU would pave way for rapid SME growth in the region. The MoU will ensure all possible support and assistance required by Smeda at local level to accomplish this task.
Later, a team of Smeda experts led by Sultan Tiwana, General Manager Business and Sector Development and Alamgir Chaudhry, General Manager Outreach division exchanged various ideas of mutual co-operation with AJK Secretary Industries for promoting SMEs in AJK. Smeda experts also gave a presentation to the delegation about the work done by Smeda in mineral, horticulture and tourism by suggesting various SME development initiatives for AJK region.