SMEDA News
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) will facilitate hunting and sporting swords and accessories manufacturers in enhancing the export of the sector from the current USD 13.5 million to USD 100 million.
The assurance was held out by Mr Socrat Aman Rana, Chief Executive Officer of SMEDA, while addressing a delegation of the Hunting and Sporting Knives, Swords and Accessories Association of Pakistan at a meeting held at SMEDA’s Head Office in Lahore on Sept 15.
The delegation was led by Mr Nadeem Ahmed Warraich, chairman of the association. SMEDA’s senior officials were also in attendance.
The CEO of SMEDA emphasized that promoting exports and generating employment through SME development remain the foremost priorities of the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
He assured the delegation that SMEDA is actively working to address the challenges facing the sector and will collaborate with the Association on initiatives such as sector profiling, production process improvement, preparation of a cluster documentary and specialized e-commerce training programs.
Highlighting SMEDA’s ongoing efforts, the CEO noted that a range of export facilitation programs are already in place to strengthen SMEs across various sectors, and similar measures will be extended to the hunting and sporting knives industry.
Earlier, Mr Nadeem Ahmed Warraich, in a presentation, informed the participants that Pakistan’s share in the global trade of hunting and sporting knives was 0.53 percent in 2022, which decreased to 0.41pc in 2024. He said the share could be enhanced manifold with the support of the government.
He said the government support could raise the exports of hunting and sporting knives from USD 13.5 million to USD 100 million.
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) hosted the First Virtual Session (8th Meeting) of the D-8 SME Governmental Bodies on Sept 10, 2025.
Delegates from Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Türkiye participated and shared their perspectives on SME-led growth and regional integration.
In his keynote, Mr Haroon Akhtar Khan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, said that under the vision of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan is committed to transforming SMEs into engines of sustainable growth and drivers of industrial modernization.
Highlighting that SMEs contribute nearly 40 percent to GDP in developing economies, he described them as essential for job creation, innovation, and poverty reduction. “SMEs are the backbone of our economy and the foundation of regional integration,” he said, noting Pakistan’s globally recognized SME sectors, including textiles, surgical instruments, IT, sports goods, light engineering, and agro-based industries.
Mr Socrat Aman Rana, CEO of SMEDA, welcomed the delegates and emphasized the critical role of SMEs across the D-8 community. SMEs represent over 90 percent of businesses worldwide, provide more than 50pc of employment, and contribute nearly 40pc of GDP in emerging markets. By 2030, SMEs are projected to generate over 70pc of new jobs,” he stated.
He expressed confidence that the new D-8 SME Cooperation Framework would enhance internationalization, global value chain integration, and access to international markets. “Together, the D-8 - representing a market of 1.3 billion people - holds the potential to expand collective trade to $2 trillion,” he added.
Speaking on the strategic significance of regional collaboration, Mr Saif Anjum, Secretary Industries and Production, said the D-8 Cooperation Framework creates opportunities for member states to integrate into the global value chain. He underlined Pakistan’s commitment to advancing economic diplomacy in the region, positioning SMEs as a central pillar of competitiveness.
H.E. Ambassador Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, Secretary-General of the D-8, shared that intra-D-8 trade reached $157.06 billion in 2024 - a 10% increase from the previous year. He highlighted the region’s ambitious goal of achieving $500 billion intra-trade by 2030 under the Decennial Roadmap and the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).
He also noted that the D-8 Centre for SMEs in Nigeria is being developed as a hub of excellence for innovation, financing, and digital integration. “The D-8 SME Cooperation Framework is evolving into a strategic engine for sustainable development, job creation, and competitiveness,” he remarked.
The session concluded with presentations from member states outlining their national SME development strategies and reaffirming a shared commitment to strengthening SME ecosystems across the D-8.
The participants agreed to convene at least twice annually and to accelerate the operationalization of the Memorandum of Understanding on SME cooperation. The next meeting is scheduled to be held in Nigeria in six months.
The Technical Working Group (TWG) of the Ministry of Industries and Production (MoIP) on Business Formalization reviewed the initial draft of the National Roadmap prepared by SMEDA in collaboration with consultants from the International Labour Organization (ILO) to facilitate the transition of informal businesses into formal economy.
The review meeting was held at SMEDA’s Head Office on Saturday, August 9.
CEO SMEDA Mr Socrat Aman Rana highlighted that over 84pc of Pakistan’s workforce operates informally within SMEs and the home-based working sector, creating significant challenges such as limited access to markets, financing, social protection, and skills development.
Federal Secretary MoIP Mr Saif Anjum, who chaired the meeting, said the MoIP-ILO collaboration under the Enterprise Formalization Project is aimed at bridging gaps in the formalization process. He noted that informal SMEs can prosper within a formal, supportive economic framework if a conducive environment is created.
Earlier, ILO consultant Usman Khan presented the proposed National Roadmap, which includes measures to simplify and incentivize the registration of microenterprises in the informal sector.
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have signed a landmark Project Agreement to support and empower women entrepreneurs in Punjab.
The initiative, titled “Project for Capacity Enhancement of Women Entrepreneurs in the Informal Economic Sector in Pakistan,” marks a significant milestone in SMEDA-JICA collaboration.
The agreement was signed by Mr. Socrat Aman Rana, CEO SMEDA, and Ms. KOMAHASHI Rie, Head of Mission, JICA Pakistan Office. The five-year project (2026-2030) aims to develop and implement the Women Entrepreneurs Booster Package - a comprehensive support mechanism designed to accelerate business growth and build sustainable entrepreneurship among women in the informal economy.
A key feature of the initiative is the establishment of a multi-stakeholder forum, which will bring together public and private sector partners to jointly drive the development and promotion of the package. SMEDA will work with public and private sector to develop it into a key initiative for women entrepreneurship in Punjab.
Welcoming the JICA delegation, Mr. Socrat Aman Rana emphasized the project's critical role in fostering inclusive economic development. He expressed gratitude for JICA’s continued support, stating, “This initiative will not only uplift women entrepreneurs but also contribute significantly to our national economic objectives. We are confident that SMEDA, with JICA’s valuable collaboration, will achieve the desired outcomes.”
Ms. KOMAHASHI Rie expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership, noting, “We are pleased to join hands with SMEDA in this pioneering initiative. While the project poses challenges, it represents a breakthrough opportunity to address barriers faced by women micro-entrepreneurs in Pakistan’s informal sector.”
In alignment with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s vision for inclusive economic growth through grassroots entrepreneurship, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has signed an MoU with Akhuwat Islamic Microfinance (AIM) to promote access to finance, formalization, and capacity building for microenterprises across Pakistan.
The MoU was signed by Socrat Aman Rana, CEO SMEDA, and Dr Amjad Saqib, Founder and Chairman of Akhuwat Foundation, at a ceremony held in Lahore.
Federal Secretary for Industries and Production Saif Anjum, along with senior representatives from AIM, the Pakistan Microfinance Network (PMN), and SMEDA’s Microenterprise Policy & Program Design (ME P&PD) team, were present.
In his keynote address, Secretary MOIP Saif Anjum emphasized the critical role of MSMEs in driving economic resilience, employment, and innovation. “Microenterprises and SMEs are at the forefront of the Prime Minister’s economic agenda. A high-level steering committee, chaired by the Prime Minister himself, is actively working to address their challenges,” he stated.
Welcoming the guests, CEO SMEDA Socrat Aman Rana highlighted the strategic objectives of the collaboration, calling it “a concrete step toward realizing the Prime Minister’s vision of a dynamic and equitable entrepreneurial landscape.” He acknowledged the vital support of the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister in bringing the partnership to fruition and aligning institutional efforts.
He noted that the microfinance sector now serves nearly 12 million active borrowers, backed by a gross loan portfolio of Rs644 billion - with women comprising 46pc of borrowers. He identified key financing areas such as trade, livestock, and agriculture as central to the MSME ecosystem, particularly in rural and semi-urban regions. Despite this progress, he emphasized the ongoing need to bridge financing gaps and formalize underserved sectors.
Dr Amjad Saqib reaffirmed Akhuwat’s dedication to the partnership, expressing confidence that the collaboration with SMEDA would significantly enhance microenterprises’ access to finance nationwide. He underscored Akhuwat’s commitment to supporting sustainable MSME development as a pathway to inclusive economic progress.
This partnership marks a significant milestone in strengthening Pakistan’s microenterprise landscape through coordinated efforts in financing, capacity building, and institutional support, he said.