LCCI, SMEDA agree on stepping up cooperation

Will explore avenues for development of SMEs in the country.

LAHORE: The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) and the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) have inked a memorandum of understanding aimed at building a platform for SMEs and promoting effective relationship between private and public sectors for SME development in the country.

LCCI President Farooq Iftikhar and Smeda CEO Sardar Ahmad Nawaz signed the MoU on Friday.

The two organisations will take steps to increase cooperation and share resources and expertise for the promotion and development of projects.

The MoU will help strengthen their efforts to develop a comprehensive database on SMES, conduct SME-related research and prepare an annual calendar of capacity-building activities. Moreover, a series of awareness seminars on “Off-grid energy solutions” and “IP rights” will be organised and the LCCI FM Radio will be used to support such initiatives.

Both organisations have agreed to develop a comprehensive programme, enabling SMEs to access trade leads by using the e-platform developed and operated by Smeda. A joint team of representatives will be constituted for the execution of the proposed programme. They will facilitate inclusion of their representatives in government’s standing committees, particularly the committees on policies and regulations.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28^th, 2013.

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