The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) and the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) have agreed to join hands to create a conducive policy environment for the development of the SME sector in the country. Mr. Farhan Aziz Khawaja, CEO of SMEDA and Ms. Rahat Kaunain Hassan, Chairperson of the CCP, in a brainstorming session held today at SMEDA head office, derived a set of common goals for the economic prosperity of the country through SME development. The others who attended this meeting from both organizations include Mr. Nadia Jehangir Seth, GM Policy Planning Division and Mr. Sheharyar Tahir, Head of the External Relations Department of SMEDA. The CCP Chairperson was accompanied by Ms. Maryam Zafar, Joint Director of CCP on this occasion.

CEO SMEDA proposed to form a joint group to ensure achievements of the common goal of creating level playing field for the sustainable growth of SMEs in the country. He also urged to exchange the research work conducted in both the organisations. He informed, SMEDA is going to launch its latest research report regarding Income Tax Regime on SMEs at Islamabad on coming Thursday. He hoped the report would help the government ease income tax on SMEs.

Earlier, Ms. Rahat Kaunain Hassan, highlighting the vision of her organization said that CCP was striving hard to provide fair play for businesses to enhance economic efficiency and to protect consumers from anticompetitive practices. For this purpose, she said that the Commission was trying to enforce law without fear and favor for creating a level playing field for business in the country, the biggest part of which exists in the SME sector.

Ms. Nadia Jehangir Seth, GM SMEDA gave a detailed presentation on SMEDA initiatives regarding promotion and development of SMEs. She also gave an overview of SME Policy-2021 and identified the areas of common interests for the cohesion of SMEDA and CCP.

Heads of both organisations wooed to raise synchronized voices for having conducive policy environment and easy access to finance for micro, small and medium enterprises in the country.