SMEDA vows regional SME cooperation at D-8

CEO stresses technology, market access; D-8 meeting targets $500b intra?trade by 2030

LAHORE:

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has reaffirmed its commitment to promote regional economic cooperation through B2B linkages, knowledge sharing and market facilitation at the 9th meeting of the D-8 SME Governmental Bodies, according to a statement issued on Monday.

The virtual meeting, hosted by Nigeria's SMEDAN, brought together heads and senior representatives of SME governmental bodies from D?8 member states to deliberate on practical measures for enhancing SME development, economic integration and intra?D?8 trade.

Representing SMEDA under the Ministry of Industries and Production, CEO Nadia Jahangir Seth said that following the constructive deliberations of the 8th meeting hosted by Pakistan, the D?8 platform is now transitioning towards implementation?driven cooperation through structured action plans and stronger institutional coordination. She said the government of Pakistan, under the prime minister's SME development vision, is focusing special attention on micro and women enterprises to empower the SME sector. She underlined common challenges faced by SMEs across member states, including limited access to finance, technology adoption, market integration and international competitiveness. Collective efforts under the D?8 framework can address these challenges through knowledge sharing, institutional linkages and coordinated policy support, she said.

D?8 Secretary?General Ambassador Sohail Mahmood highlighted the critical role of SMEs in achieving the intra?D?8 trade target of $500 billion by 2030.