FAISALABAD: Pakistan has to encourage and bring 3.2 million SME’s in the mainstream of national exports in order to strengthen national economy. However, in this connection Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has to play its pivotal role by extending awareness, guidance and facilities to the potential exporters, said acting president Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), Syed Zia Alamdar Hussain.
Addressing a training program organized by SMEDA on import and export procedures and documentations in FCCI here today, he said that Faisalabad is basically an agro-industrial city. “Its growth is also linked with the development of SME sector and now this city was contributing six billion dollars towards the total national textile exports of 13 billion dollars”, he added.
Continuing, Syed Zia Alamdar Hussain said that Pakistan was facing acute energy problem which has not only created multi-facet social and economic problems but also pegged its exports. Many industrial units were closed down or forced to curtail their production due to the non-availability of electricity and gas. He said that composite unit somehow, managed to install their own generators but the small units with limited financial resources were unable to maintain their minimum and economically viable productivity only due to the energy shortage.
Acting President said that FCCI had to make hectic efforts and government was forced to ensure electricity to the major industrial sector round the clock. Similarly, the major industrial units are also getting uninterrupted gas supply after the import of LNG. He said that now, it is high time for the SME sector to enhance its production and make maximum exports to earn precious foreign exchange as the energy crisis is permanently over.
Syed Zia Alamdar Hussain said that 3.2 million small and medium industrial units are working in Pakistan. Out of these 30 percent are manufacturing value added products while its share in total exports in about 25 percent. Similarly, its share in GDP is also calculated at 30 percent, he said and added that SME sector was also providing jobs to the 78 percent workforce of Pakistan. He appreciated the training program launched by SMEDA and said that FCCI members belonging to SME sector are blessed with God gifted capabilities of entrepreneurship but they cannot play their due role due to the non-availability of proper awareness and training deemed necessary for enhancing exports.
He urged upon the participants of training program to fully avail from this facility which will help them to double their income by making exports to the traditional as well as non-traditional markets.
The function was also attended by Manager Legal Services SMEDA Muhammad Arif, Ejaz Ahmed, Bilal Afzal and Dr. Habib Aslam Gaba. Special lectures on import export procedure were also delivered while Jameel Ahemd Vice President FCCI distributed certificates among the participants of the training program.
Muhammad Arif Manager Legal Services SMEDA presented a special memento to Acting President FCCI Syed Zia Alamdar Hussain.
