Minister discusses SMEDA action plan for SME growth

LAHORE: Federal Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain reviewed the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) Action Plan in line with the prime minister’s vision to promote SME growth in Pakistan.

The meeting, held at SMEDA’s headquarters, was attended by Secretary Industries and Production Saif Anjum and senior SMEDA officials.

Socrat Aman Rana, CEO of SMEDA, delivered a detailed presentation outlining key government-level interventions needed to support SMEs.

He discussed the importance of enhancing access to financing,

marketing, technology upgrades, subcontracting opportunities, and women’s entrepreneurship initiatives to empower

small and medium enterprises.

The CEO highlighted that provincial working groups, established under the National SME Policy-2021, are actively formulating provincial SME development strategies. SMEDA, in partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC), has already supported the governments of Sindh and Balochistan in drafting regional SME development strategies and is prepared to extend similar assistance to other provinces.

The current government is committed to addressing poverty and unemployment by fostering rapid and inclusive SME growth nationwide. The Ministry of Industries and Production (MoIP) is focusing on implementing a viable and effective SME development strategy in accordance with the prime minister’s directives. SMEDA, under the guidance of MoIP, is dedicated to creating a comprehensive SME Development Strategy while advancing the existing ‘action plan’ under the SME Policy-2021.