Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) has convened the 3rd meeting of the Economic Cooperation and Development Forum (ECDF) to share recommendations prepared by the six thematic groups on different sectors with the members of the forum.

The meeting would be held on Thursday (March 12, 2020) at a local hotel. Provincial Minister for Finance Saleem Taimur Jhagra is likely to chair the meeting of the forum while Advisor to KP CM on Industries Abdul Karim Khan and Special Assistant to KP CM on Excise & Taxation Ghazan Jamal would be the guests of honour on the occasion.

ECDF is a USAID funded project being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with SMEDA for providing technical support in implementation of UNDP FATA Economic Revitalization Programme in the Newly Merged Areas (former FATA). ECDF is one of the key components of FERP project.

The purpose of the forum is bringing together key public and private sector stakeholders and provision of a platform to discuss challenges and opportunities of the Newly Merged Areas (NMDs) that can be harnessed for accelerated economic growth.