KARACHI: The International Trade Centre (ITC), under the auspices of the EU funded “Growth for Rural Advancement and Sustainable Progress (Grasp)”, has organised multi-stakeholders consultation for the design of the SME competitiveness strategy for Sindh from November 1 to 3, 20121 at a local hotel, a statement said on Saturday.

The three-day consultations will be a platform for public and private stakeholders to discuss the current situation, challenges and advancements relating to the performance of Sindh’s SMEs in multiple areas, including but not limited to quality, skills, logistics, finance, policy and regulations as was stated in the invitation to the stakeholders.

Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (Unisame) president Zulfikar Thaver said: “We are invited and will participate in the deliberations for the cause of the SME farmers, traders, manufacturers and the service providers wholeheartedly.”

He said Sindh has vast potential and the SMEs in the province are in a position to change the destiny of Sindh if given the opportunity, the encouragement and support to modernise their units.

He lauded the provincial Industries Ministry and emphasised that the Sindh Enterprise Development Fund (SEDF) is in a position to uplift the existing SME units and also set up new units provided their scope is extended to include beyond their restricted specific agenda of agriculture-related projects only.

Thaver also said the vast potential of Sindh’s entrepreneurs remained untapped. There is a vast scope in farming and value addition in all the segments, he said and advised Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to set up a CM Investment Cell and invite the leading industrialists to join hands to promote indigenous and import substitution industries in the province.

The union chief offered the services of Unisame experts for fast-track promotion.

The Unisame Council experts will participate on all three days with three members on each day and will highlight the issues vigorously.