KARACHI: The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has appreciated State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on expansion of the 3S group comprising of SBP, SMEDA and SECP as SME Pakistan Forum (SMEPF) and including of other leading institutions on the pattern of SME Finance Forum of Berlin and the World SME Forum working for SME development.
President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said the present 3S group had worked hard towards promoting interaction between the group, strengthening role of banks , DFIs, SECP and SMEDA for facilitating SMEs and suggesting improvements in SME policy. The SBP has now invited UNISAME and other stakeholders to join in as members.
The terms of reference of SMEPF are being prepared to ensure establishing interaction, coordination and facilitation among members for collaborative actions as well as recommendations for capacity building.
Thaver said since the SME sector had been advising the government to form a committee for integrated efforts as the stakeholder institutions lacked coordination. He said there were issues of hierarchy and over-lapping jurisdictions adding the setting up of SMEPF was a way forward.
He urged the SBP to expedite the setting up of Exim Bank and the restructuring of SME Bank of Pakistan and asked Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) to set up the SME Export Bureau.
“It is pertinent to note that without adequate financing of the farm sector the aim and object of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy will remain incomplete and UNISAME has stressed on the need for a strong support line for modernizing agriculture,” Thaver said.[the_ad id=”31605″]