Karachi:The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has demanded tax incentives and other facilities for small and medium enterprises.
In a statement, the UNISAME thanked Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan for giving priority to SME sector and directing strengthening of the sector at the Economic Advisory Council meeting.
However the UNISAME delegation led by its vice president Dr Shehzad Amin will further stress the need for the much needed friendly SME policies at the 3rd SME Conference at Lahore on 27th November organized by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) and other SME promotion and development institutions.
President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver thanked SMEDA for providing platform and said the delegation will invite the attention of the policy makers present at the conference and highlight the requirements of the micro to medium sized sector and seek support from the stakeholders for friendly policies, priority for sector and a strong SMEDA.
Listing the requirements of the majority under privileged sector he said the first is access to finance at affordable rates. He said uninterrupted energy and subsidy for alternate renewable energy should be given. The other requirements being technical support for up gradation and improving bench mark.
Thaver said fall in exports is a major issue and requested for marketing support and urged setting up of the proposed SME export promotion bureau without loss of time. The SMES need facilities for e-Commerce especially gateway for payments. Merchant accounts at nominal charges as this will increase exports.
He emphasized the need for land at concession on pay as you earn scheme for SME investors to join CEPEC and attract collaborations and joint ventures with Chinese partners. Among other requirements are tax incentives for startups, modernization of farms and SME units engaged in manufacturing, processing and assembling of goods.
The union will also raise the issue of cost of doing business and reduction of rates of utilities and one window facilities for all. The delegation will also remind the policy makers to set up the office of the promised ombudsman to resolve grievances and high handedness of the MSMES and prompt redressal of grievances.
The other important demands of the sector are reduction of duties on raw and packing materials. ASME specific bank, Export Credit Guarantee Insurance on low premium, early functioning of Exim Bank, placing SMEDA under cabinet division for fast track implementation, need for SME Chamber of Commerce, SME Credit card and other products to be developed by banks.
Thaver pointed out that there is need for a national committee for integrated efforts of all stakeholders. The national committee needs to be headed by private sector and must include all SBP, Smeda, PCSIR, TDAP, ACADEMIA, NPO, EDB, and ENERGY Board and others.
Last but not the least SMEDA must invite voluntary free registration of all SMES as per the definition to be framed by the Steering Committee and connect with the SMES online for educating , updating on modernization and upgrading on specific industries from time to time.
UNISAME is confident that 2019 is going to be the year of the SMES as the new SME policy is on the anvil and the government is seriously concerned to uplift the sector on fast track basis. The Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved the recommendations submitted under NFIS by State Bank of Pakistan and this will go a long way in uplifting the neglected sector.