LAHORE:Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Trade Center (ITC) to undertake joint activities for effective implementation of the EU-funded grant project “Growth for Rural Advancement and Sustainable Progress” (GRASP).
SMEDA CEO Hashim Raza told media here Wednesday that GRASP is a six-year project designed to reduce poverty in Pakistan by strengthening small-scale agri businesses in two provinces i.e. Balochistan and Sindh, Pakistan. It will help small and medium-sized enterprises in horticulture and livestock.
The project, he added, is implemented by International Trade Centre, the joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, with active participation from both foreign and local partners including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF). The project is funded by the delegation of the European Union to Pakistan with a budget of up to Euro € 48,000,000 (Rs.308 million approximately), he added.
Hashim Raza said that under the MoU, SMEDA and ITC will conduct multiple joint activities to facilitate SMEs in Sindh and Balochistan in the areas of horticulture and livestock, which include facilitating rural businesses; contributing to the development of SME competitiveness and sustainability strategies; developing feasibility study reports to facilitate investments in climate resilient infrastructure; developing a cohort of Master Trainers on Agribusiness Management and Marketing; Conducting training on Agro-entrepreneurship development; Operational and managerial Capacity building of SMEDA to improve its policy development, planning and research functions to benefit rural MSME development; Supporting in building capacities of business associations (including women) on policy and business advocacy, conducting research and developing position papers etc.; Providing assistance to the Ministry of Commerce (DCW) to implement complementary domestic commerce policy initiatives and assisting in awareness-raising among provincial Departments of Commerce and Industries and other rule-setting departments/agencies in Sindh and Balochistan on domestic commerce and related reforms.
He said the project is envisaged to be governed by three steering committees: One at the national level led by the Government of Pakistan and two at the provincial level led by the governments of Balochistan and Sindh. Key stakeholders include producers, agricultural service providers, small and medium-sized enterprises, consumers and policymakers at both provincial and federal level, also including Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), Ministry of Industries and Production, Government of Pakistan, he added.
The CEO SMEDA further informed that his Organization has already implemented numerous entrepreneurship and SME development programs in collaboration with provincial governments and international development agencies in all provinces of Pakistan. SMEDA has successfully implemented different women entrepreneurship training programs, investment promotion programs, policy & advocacy programs, sector development programs and other SMEs development activities. Due to similarities in the mandates of SMEDA and ITC, the MoU would be helpful in achieving the common objectives set in GRASP, he added.