TDAP, SMEDA join hands to facilitate trade

The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) on Saturday inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for boosting mutual cooperation and complementing efforts for export and trade development.

Talking to APP, Smeda Media Consultant Liaqat Ali Gohar said the MoU was aimed at developing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and facilitating women entrepreneurs with focus on increasing their capacity to export and utilise e-commerce platforms.

Under the agreement, both parties have agreed on regular and reciprocal exchange of trade and economic information as well as information concerning important international and domestic events held for the purpose of identifying business opportunities.

The two entities also agreed to exchange information related to joint working programmes. In response to a question, the Smeda official elaborated that TDAP would facilitate Smeda’s linkages with commercial sections of embassies for trade data, other related information and SME-related activities. According to him, both organisations will jointly conduct training programmes, seminars and workshops at local and international levels pertaining to export enhancement and skills development of SMEs and women entrepreneurs.

He revealed that the seminars would also raise awareness of utilisation of e-commerce, online business and business digitisation for SMEs.

The official said the two organisations would coordinate in marketing and the MoU was inked to jointly promote and execute various measures pertaining to the Pakistan Goes Global (PGG) initiative.

To another question, he replied that Smeda had been organising SME conferences to provide a united platform to stakeholders of the sector such as researchers, businesses and international development agencies for sharing their experiences for SME development in Pakistan. “The useful insights gained through such events have helped us in preparing need-based policy recommendations for the government,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2020.

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