UNIDO offers rural Sindh grants of €11,000 to €200,000

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KARACHI:

Speakers at a meeting said the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO)'s national programme targets Sindh's districts, including Sujawal, Thatta, Badin, Tharparkar, and Larkana, while giving grants to Pakistani entrepreneurs to establish or expand businesses in these areas aimed at alleviating poverty in rural Sindh and creating opportunities for small business growth.

They said this during an awareness session on business development grants under "the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) PAIDAR programme" at a meeting held at the Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry (HCSTSI) with Hafeez Jatoi, Cluster Development Associate of UNIDO, according to a statement released by the HCSTSI on Saturday.

During the session, UNIDO's national programme officer, Baddarul Islam, highlighted the objectives of the programme, stating that the European Union (EU) is providing grants ranging from €11,000 to €200,000, equivalent to approximately Rs3 million to Rs60 million.

He said this programme primarily targets Sindh's districts, including Sujawal, Thatta, Badin, Tharparkar, and Larkana. However, new entrepreneurs from across Pakistan can participate and establish or expand their businesses in these districts. The primary goal is to alleviate poverty in rural Sindh and create opportunities for the growth of small businesses.

This initiative aims to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and play a pivotal role in their development.

Grant Specialist Babar Aziz provided a detailed briefing on the application process and the stages involved. He said these grants are crucial for new entrepreneurs who lack the resources to expand their ventures or initiate new ones. For male applicants, the grant will be offered on a 50-50 cost-sharing basis, while for women entrepreneurs, it will be provided with a 30-70 cost-sharing arrangement.

He outlined the application process, eligibility criteria, and the types of expenses covered under the grants. Entrepreneurs can visit UNIDO's official website and find the procurement opportunity option under the 'get involved in procurement' head to fill out the application forms and apply.

HCSTSI Senior Vice President Ahmed Idrees Chohan said such programmes are a beacon of hope for aspiring entrepreneurs. These initiatives not only provide financial resources but also equip businesses with modern technologies and opportunities to align with global standards. The HCSTSI encourages and motivates its members to take full advantage of such programmes.