PM orders strategy to boost SMEs

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) to formulate a comprehensive strategy for extending financial assistance to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and businesspersons across the country aimed at enhancing their professional capacity and facilitating their access to global markets. The prime minister directed that promoting entrepreneurship and ensuring equal facilities and uniform technical support in all areas of the country should be among the foremost institutional objectives of SMEDA. A review meeting was held here, chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, to review ongoing initiatives being undertaken under the supervision of SMEDA for providing financial support and facilities to small and medium-sized industries and entrepreneurs. The prime minister directed that the ongoing SMEDA programme aimed at ensuring greater participation of women in small and medium-sized industries and businesses should be further expanded. He also directed that digital platforms be effectively utilized to provide local entrepreneurs access to national and international commercial markets. The prime minister said that SMEDA's strategy for promoting businesses should cover the maximum possible number of regions and sectors. He further directed SMEDA to formulate a strategy comprising special measures to organize production and commercial linkages of agricultural commodities. It was further briefed that efforts were underway, in line with international best practices, to increase exports of industrial products associated with small businesses and facilitate their access to global markets. The meeting was informed that SMEDA, in collaboration with various relevant institutions, was working on an integrated and comprehensive strategy. France Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to further expand and deepen its longstanding relations with France through enhanced political dialogue, economic engagement, development cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges. Talking to the outgoing Ambassador of the French Republic to Pakistan Nicolas Galey, who paid a farewell call on him, the prime minister appreciated Ambassador Galey's contribution towards strengthening Pakistan-France relations during his tenure.