ISLAMABAD: A delegation of United Nations Industrial Development Organization led by Esam Alqararah UNIDO representative visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry to discuss joint collaborations between both organizations for promoting Cleantech Innovations in SMEs and start-up businesses. Dr. Shahina Waheed National Program Coordinator UNIDO and Muhammad Hammad Bashir Saeed Project Technical Expert Cleantech Pakistan Program were other members of delegation.
Esam Alqararah said many innovations were done in Pakistan in multiple areas including clean technologies, but innovators could not commercialize their business ideas on account of lack of access to capital due to which economy and society could not get real benefit from such innovations. He proposed to organize an “Investors Connect” session at ICCI to connect investors with innovators so that investors could see the viability of business ideas and help innovators with venture capital for commercializing their innovations.
He said this initiative will encourage indigenization, increase economic activities, pave way for Pakistan to become a regional hub of clean technology and promote a culture of Angel Investors and Venture Capitalist in the country.
It was further discussed that ICCI should join hands with Pakistan Council for Science and Technology (PCST) and UNIDO to review existing policies, identify gap and prepare recommendations for the government to make conducive policies for Cleantech innovations.
Speaking at the occasion, Atif Ikram Sheikh, president, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry appreciated the role of UNIDO for promoting Cleantech innovations in SMEs and start-up businesses. He assured that ICCI would cooperate with UNIDO in its initiatives to connect innovators with investors and review policies.
He said Pakistani entrepreneurs have great potential to foster innovations in many fields including renewable energy, energy efficiency, water efficiency and waste to energy and government should focus on developing enabling policies in consultation with private sector to transform innovative ideas into mass commercial products. It will help the country to manufacture value added products and bring phenomenal improvement in exports.
