ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in collaboration with Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), has organized a Business Clinic for providing training to the SMEs and startups that have qualified as semi-finalists for UNIDO’s Call for Awards 2015 of Cleantech competition.
The GEF funded initiative was part of a three years Global Cleantech Innovation Program (GCIP), currently running in many countries including Pakistan and is aimed at developing a sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystem by supporting clean technology innovations in SMEs and startups so that they could maximize opportunities for achieving sustainable commercial success. In the second cycle of this competition, Pakistan got the highest number of applications among all other countries which showed the potential and talent of Pakistan in clean technology.
Speaking at the occasion, UNIDO Representative Esam ALQARARAH, thanked ICCI for partnering with UNIDO to organize Business Clinic of Global Cleantech Innovation Program for SMEs and hoped that cooperation of both organizations will help in promoting green industry in the region. He said UNIDO was involved in promoting Cleantech innovation programs for SMEs around the world in order to promote inclusive and sustainable Industrial Development (ISID) for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability.
He said these efforts of UNIDO in Pakistan will go a long way in promoting clean technologies for green growth and green industry in the country. He assured that UNIDO will keep providing different services to the semifinalists including trainings, incubation services and others that would help them a lot in improving their business prospects and take their Cleantech ideas to new heights.
Addressing the Business Clinic, Muzzamil Hussain Sabri, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry stressed upon the need of providing SMEs and start-up businesses easy access to solutions, alternatives and funding support to innovate, absorb and scale up clean technologies for green growth and green industry.