KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah on Friday called upon the need to promote Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which he termed as unavoidable for industrialisation and growth of trade in the country.

“The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Commerce International and the business community should extend special emphasis to promote the SME sector as I would recommend the concerned circles of the government to establish more SME zones with one dedicated SME zone for women entrepreneurs,” he said while speaking in his inaugural address at the 9th My Karachi – Oasis of Harmony Exhibition on Friday at Karachi Expo Centre.

The mega event was attended by local and foreign exhibitors displaying their products at more than 200 stalls in four exhibition halls. The foreign delegates were from Afghanistan, India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka. Largest presence of foreign delegate was from India with 20 exhibitors led by former Mumbai Chamber of Commerce president Ashok Kumar Bharat taking part in the exhibition.

Speaking on the occasion, he said the government has taken measures to improve law and order in the city, bring down cost of doing business and cut utilities expenses.

He noted that since its inception, My Karachi Exhibition has proved successful to portray the image of Karachi with flying colours as a hub of financial activities in Pakistan as well as a promising land of opportunities. “It is also worth mentioning to quote here that, KCCI, organises this event to promote and uplift the image of Karachi.”

He congratulated KCCI and its president Mian Abrar Ahmad and the entire team for taking such a positive and constructive initiative, which in his opinion would not only provide a very attractive business avenue, both to the local and foreign investors to exhibit their products and help promote trade, but would also help to strengthen the image of Karachi as a peaceful city.

The chief minister said that some internal and external impediments mostly affect the excellence of trade and economy such as cost of borrowing, high utilities expenses, the power crisis and very often the law and order situation.

“In my opinion these are controllable and the government has taken measures for the needful. I must say, in the era of globalisation, public-private partnership has become essential and collective efforts are required to overcome the impediments,” he added.

He said high level business delegations from India and Afghanistan are in Karachi to participate in the My Karachi Exhibition 2012 and to meet their Pakistan counterparts for business-to-business meetings.

Sindh Industries Minister Rauf Siddiqui said that an effluent treatment plant will be completed at Kotri Industrial Area with Turkish support next month. Barat said Karachi and Mumbai are two major commercial cities in the region and collaboration between their chambers of commerce will boost trade in the region.

Courtesy Daily times