Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting with SME clusters and Trade and Investment Officers (TIOs) from key countries to explore avenues for enhancing exports and expanding the global footprint of Pakistan’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
The meeting was attended by TIOs from China, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Australia, Indonesia, and Hong Kong, along with Additional Secretary Industries and Production Asad Islam Mahni, CEO SMEDA Ms. Nadia J. Seth, and representatives of SME clusters from across the country, said a news release.
Addressing the participants, the special assistant emphasized that prime minister’s vision is to provide Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with opportunities to access international markets and boost exports. He highlighted that SMEDA is actively working towards the growth and economic sustainability of MSMEs in Pakistan.
“Pakistan’s SMEs possess immense potential to export “Made in Pakistan” products globally. Sectors such as organic salt, honey, and plastic products can significantly expand their exports if facilitated effectively by Trade and Investment Officers”, he noted.
Haroon said that household care and floor cleaner products manufactured by Pakistani SMEs have strong potential to compete at the international level. He underscored the critical role of TIOs in creating B2B opportunities and linking Pakistani SMEs with global markets.
He stressed that organizing international expos and symposiums would provide SMEs with greater access to foreign markets and enable them to compete globally. Highlighting a success story, the SAPM mentioned that honey from Karak is already being exported to Malaysia, reflecting the strong potential of Pakistani SMEs.
He directed SMEDA and TIOs to actively create opportunities and facilitate SMEs in accessing international markets. He suggested that the Australian TIO, in coordination with SMEDA, could connect Pakistan’s auto parts and honey sectors with Australian importers.
He also pointed out that the SME sector can tap into the electric vehicle parts manufacturing market through joint ventures, particularly with the support of Chinese TIOs.
Haroon emphasized that the prime minister has placed special focus on uplifting SMEs in Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and Balochistan by providing them with international export opportunities.
He further directed SMEDA to provide training to SMEs in branding, product development, and export techniques to enhance their competitiveness in global markets.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to strengthen collaboration between SMEDA, TIOs, and SME stakeholders to unlock Pakistan’s export potential and drive sustainable economic growth.