April 03, 2007	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 14, 1428

ISLAMABAD, April 2: The Industrial Information Network (IIN), the Smeda and the Intel Pakistan Corporation on Monday inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to create an awareness of how technology adoption can help businesses grow and remain competitive.

Under the MoU, four experience zones will be set up in the first phase by the Intel Pakistan at Smeda’s selected sights, which would facilitate small and medium enterprises to get information about the latest trends in technology, as well as experience what role technology can play to enhance their business model.

Secretary, Ministry of Industries and Production, Shahab Khawaja, and country-manager, Intel Pakistan, Shahzad Aslam Khan, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations.

An official announcement said that the IIN was launched by the government in 2005 to make SME sector of the country competitive in e-business. The MoU would enhance IIN’s effectiveness as Pakistan’s first B2B Portal.

The industries secretary said the major aim of joining hands with the Intel was to provide SMEs with better facilities of e-business having an easy access to latest technology tools to achieve rapid growth for optimal level of profitability.

He observed that creation of industrial information network had successfully narrowed the digital divide between the business community of Pakistan and the rest of the world.

Country manager of Intel Pakistan Shahzad Aslam Khan said the value to be added through MoU would go beyond the hardware and software right into the ‘heart ware’ aspect of the SMEs buying decision.

He said the small and medium enterprises sector today needs a strong business solution to help them grow their business and compete to win in the world market.