The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have inked an Agreement for the Capacity Enhancement of Women Entrepreneurs in the informal economic sector of Punjab. Mr Socrat Aman Rana, Chief Executive Officer of SMEDA and Ms KOMAHSHI Rie, Head of JICA Mission, signed the agreement at a ceremony held at SMEDA Head Office today.

On this occasion, Mr. Socrat Aman Rana, CEO of SMEDA, welcomed the JICA Mission and highlighted the project’s importance for the economic development of women entrepreneurs. He stated that enhancing women entrepreneurs was a priority for both the provincial and federal governments in Pakistan. He assured me that he would work closely with JICA to achieve the objectives of the agreement.

Head of the JICA Mission, Ms Komahashi Rie, expressed her views during the signing ceremony, expressing satisfaction with the collaboration with SMEDA in the women entrepreneurs’ empowerment initiative. She said, “It’s a challenging project, but it will prove to be a breakthrough to overcome barriers faced by micro-level women entrepreneurs.

It is notable that the initiative titled as “Project for Capacity Enhancement of Women Entrepreneurs in the Informal Economic Sector in Pakistan”, is the culmination of a series of meetings and consultations between SMEDA, JICA, and relevant public and private sector stakeholders in Punjab. The five-year project (2026-2030) envisages the development of a Women Entrepreneurs Booster Package (WEBPA to facilitate the business growth of women entrepreneurs.  It will also provide comprehensive support through a multi-stakeholder forum, which will mobilise public and private organisations along with SMEDA to enhance women’s entrepreneurship in Punjab.

The project will formulate a Scale-up Strategy and Action Plan (SUSAP) for the application of WEBPA to extend its benefits to women entrepreneurs across Punjab and other regions of Pakistan.