Small units: Incentive scheme to help SMEs promote exports

Science ministry has launched 3-year certification incentive programme

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Science and Technology has launched a certification incentive programme for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) under the Productivity, Quality and Invention Initiative 2025 to support the small units.

An amount of Rs100,000-400,000 per certification for each SME has been earmarked under the project.

The objective of this campaign is to assist the SMEs in producing better quality products, improving industrial productivity, achieving high level of competitiveness and having greater penetration of Pakistani products into the international market.



To brief the business community about key features of the programme, the Ministry of Science and Technology organised an introductory seminar at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Project Manager Shaheen Raja said companies that achieved certifications such as ISO 9001, 14001, 18001 and others would be eligible to apply for the incentive programme.



He said the programme would be for three years, of which one year had already passed. The cost of the initiative will be Rs745.81 million, of which 75% will be spent on giving grants to the SMEs for certifications while the rest will be allocated for capacity building and training.

These enterprises are not bound by law to acquire certifications, however, for promoting exports in the international market, they have to get these certifications as global clients prefer to buy from certified firms.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2018.

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