First meeting of PSIC’s steering committee held

LAHORE – Provincial Minister for Finance, Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha Wednesday presided over the first meeting of steering committee of Punjab Small Industry Corporation at Civil Secretariat.

Minister for Industries & Trade Chaudhry Muhammad Shafique, Chief Administrator Punjab Investment Board Muhammad Haroon Shaukat, Secretary Industry Khalid Sherdil, Managing Director Punjab Small Industries besides officers concerned of TEVTA, Agriculture, Finance, Planning & Development and Information Technology Board were present on the occasion.
The aim of the meeting was to evolve a strategy for the promotion of small and medium level enterprises in collaboration with Turk company KOSGEB and Punjab government in the province.

Giving a briefing, Secretary Industries informed that during the visit of Chief Minister Punjab to Turkey, President KOSGEB especially met him and expressed interest in work for SMEs development in Punjab.

The Chief Minister accepted and assured complete cooperation in this regard.
A delegation of KOSGEB visited Pakistan in March 2016 and signed a MoU with Small Industries Corporation after workshops with SMEDA, Punjab Small Industries Corporation, TEVTA, Punjab Vocational Training Center, Punjab Board of Investment and Trade Departments.
According to MoU, Turk company will provide its services for the provision of information, training and resources relating to young entrepreneur business with the cooperation of all institutions in Punjab.
The committee constituted by Chief Minister has sent its summary for approval.
Managing Director Punjab Small Industries Corporation apprised the meeting of strategy evolved for small and medium enterprises.
He told the participants that corporation with the assistance of KOSGEB has divided this programme into three pillars which include entrepreneur training programme, setting up of business information centers and credit support programme.
Under this programme, 9000 entrepreneurs will be trained, more than 14000 will be provided financial assistance and 1440 centers would be set up within next three years.
Dr.
Ayesha Ghaus Pasha appreciated the efforts of Punjab Small Industries Corporation and KOSGEB for the promotion of SMEs.
She directed them to prepare PC-I of the project and ensure e-monitoring of the programme and move forward with the consultation of all concerned departments including Punjab IT Board, Livestock and Agriculture.
She said that strengthening of economy is impossible without promotion of SMEs but unfortunately, this sector is the most neglected one.
However, now work has been started on this project, she added.
She expressed the hope that with the personal interest of Chief Minister Punjab, the target of growth rate will be achieved by creating facilities for small and medium level enterprises in the province.