ISLAMABAD, May 29: United Nations Industrial Development Organization has launched Industrial Information Network (IIN) in Pakistan in collaboration with SME bank, Comsats and SMEDA as project partners, here on Wednesday.

The IIN was formally launched by Mr Carlos Magarinos, Director General, UNIDO who is currently visiting Pakistan to discuss the future role of UNIDO in the development of industry, here at the premises of Comsats’s headquarters.

In his project report, Mr Atif Mumtaz of UNIDO apprised the audience of the significance of the IIN in the development of the small and medium enterprises in the country.

He said the IIN would be the largest source of information generation, exchange and dissemination for providing the value added support to the SMEs in Pakistan.

“The purpose of initiating IIN is to assist in overcoming the structural and institutional flaws that have been experienced in development of SME sector”, Mr Atif underlined.

Assistance in improving the quality of products; access to new and unexplored markets; information on the new available technology; distance learning and training opportunities for SMEs and platform for investors to invest in SME sector in Pakistan were some of the areas that will benefit from this project.

He said, in the beginning IIN would cater to the needs of textile and leather sectors, later other sectors would also be incorporated in the e-commerce portal. To make it an unique portal the information available on it will be both in Urdu and English languages.

Information regarding SME’s rules, regulations, and laws; opening of new export avenues and virtual shops; business information centres and cyber cafes where SMEs can learn about IIN will also be made available on the portal in near future.

Mr Carlos Magarinos, the Director General, UNIDO after formally launching IIN said, it was life time achievement for SME sector in Pakistan.

“The set up of IIN in Pakistan will give a much needed boost to SMEs in the country if properly explored by the quarters concerned “, DG said.

President SME bank, Kaiser Naseem expressed his satisfaction over the timely completion of IIN in the country.

The chief executive officer SMEDA, Iqbal Mustafa was of the view that IIN can only achieve its objectives if SMEs will be actively involved in the whole exercise.

He was hopeful that with the passage of time, IIN would become home page for the entire lot of SMEs.

The secretary for industries and production, Dr Akram Sheikh thanked the participants of the ceremony on behalf of the government.

He was appreciative of the role of SME bank, SMEDA, UNIDO and Comsats in the launching of the IIN in Pakistan.

The executive director Comsats, Dr Hameed Khan’s message was read by Dr Tajamul Hussain.

He said the IIN, Comsats and UNIDO have agreed to cooperate in environmentally sound and clean technologies, establishment of certification bodies for implementation of ISO-14000, upgrading agro-industries, renewable technologies and to support energy- efficient industry in common member countries.

The UNIDO, SME Bank and National Productivity Organization (NPO) have signed an MoU to jointly develop selected SME clusters in Pakistan by using the UNIDO’s “cluster development methodology”.

The SME Bank will extend its lending and other financial services and finance various projects on recommendation from the NPO and UNIDO.

The UNIDO will help identify an agreed number of new

SME clusters as well as potential “Cluster Development Agents”.

It will also provide technical expertise to enhance the efficiency of the selected SME clusters and their constituent members.