April 8, 2006	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 9, 1427

KARACHI, April 7: The Chabahar Free Trade and Industrial Zone Organization, Iran, has invited Pakistani entrepreneurs to set up small and medium scale industries in the zone.

In a message to the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) on Friday, the organization has suggested that in view of geographical location, availability of cheap petrochemical and oil related raw material and inexpensive fuel and electricity, the zone is a natural and ideal place for Pakistani entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, Union of Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (Unisame) President Zulfikar Thaver has advised SME industrialists to study feasibilities for setting up of rice and pulses processing, plastic goods production, petroleum jelly packing, brake and engine oils packing units for re-export to neighbouring countries and for domestic sale of finished goods in Iran of items shipped as raw material from Pakistan and processed in the Chabahar free zone.

At the same time items like petroleum jelly, plastic goods, dry fruits and food stuffs can be imported from Chabahar.

Mr Thaver said that Chabahar was very near and convenient for Pakistanis for setting up of profitable units, adding that SMEs must avail the opportunity as the cost of production was much lower due to various factors.

He said further that Unisame, Smeda and the Chabahar industrial organization would shortly arrange a joint programme to facilitate SME investors and arrange a visit to the Chabahar free zone.