KARACHI, Dec 7: The USAID has offered $12 million, to be matched equally by the federal government, for a number of programmes and projects aimed at improving the overall economic performance of Sindh. These proposed programmes include establishment of new industrial estates and upgrading of the existing ones, as well as promotion of cluster development in the province.

In this connection, a meeting was held here on Thursday at the New Sindh Secretariat. It was presided over by Chief Secretary Mr Fazlur Rehman and attended by Dr Junaid Ahmed, Adviser (Investment), Ministry of Finance; and Mr Arthur Bayhan, CEO of the Competitiveness Support Fund (CSF), established jointly by the USAID and the Federal Ministry of Finance.

Mr Rehman asked the secretaries concerned to go through the details of the CSF for finalising a memorandum of understanding.

Earlier, Mr Arthur highlighted the job-orientation programme of the CSF, which will carry out a study of various industries and identify new sectors of competitive advantage.

The Fund will also provide technical assistance and co-financing through its various windows for initiatives related to entrepreneurship and private sector-led initiatives with R&D institutions.

Under the CSF, a monitoring and evaluation system will jointly be developed and implemented by the Sindh government to ensure timely completion of selected projects.

Besides, an advisory committee on competitiveness will be set up as a platform to promote public-private and academia partnership on competitiveness and help in effective implementation of selected programmes and projects. The committee will comprise 8-10 members with three members each from government, private and academia sector and one representative of the USAID.