Islamabad: The government is preparing to host multiple annual expos to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) amid ongoing challenges related to power shortages and customs regulations. The initiative, discussed in a high-level meeting chaired by Haroon Akhtar Khan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, aims to strengthen the SME sector and promote "Made in Pakistan" products globally.
According to Union of Small and Medium Enterprises, the meeting brought together SMEDA Chief Executive Officer Nadia J Seth, Additional Secretary Industries and Production Asad Islam Mahni, SMEDA board members, and representatives from chambers of commerce and industry. The gathering focused on reviewing the progress of SME clusters, identifying key challenges, and outlining strategies for growth.
The recent SME Expo was highlighted as a significant achievement, with plans to continue holding more than two such events annually in various cities across Pakistan. Representatives of SME clusters provided feedback and expressed appreciation for the previous expo's organization, emphasizing the importance of empowering SMEs and increasing their visibility.
Haroon Akhtar Khan noted the export potential of products like honey and olive oil, which meet international standards and have the potential to become global brands. He also addressed sector-specific issues, calling for a comprehensive plan to modernize the salt mining sector and acknowledging electricity load shedding in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa as a major challenge.
The meeting also addressed customs hurdles faced by olive oil products during inter-regional transportation. Akhtar Khan assured that these barriers would be resolved and emphasized the need to promote olive oil domestically. He directed SMEDA to maintain continuous engagement with SME clusters, resolve issues with relevant departments, and submit a comprehensive report with actionable recommendations, reaffirming the government's commitment to supporting SMEs.
The post Govt Plans Regular Expos as SME Sector Faces Power and Customs Challenges appeared first on Pakistan Business News.