Pakistan: Italy to feature in SME conference in Lahore

Karachi - Italy among other foreign countries is poised to take part in the forthcoming International Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Conference in Pakistan. The two-day conference aims to avail of the best SME development research conducted in the world. The country's Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), delegates from the USA, UK, Turkey, Japan, Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, Germany and China are expected to attend this conference in Lahore city, capital of the Punjab province.

High level government officials, representatives of the business community and academics would shed light on prospects for further growth of the SME sector. Top public and private sector entities such as the country's central bank the State Bank of Pakistan, top regulator the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, Pakistan Stock Exchange, Leasing Association of Pakistan, and the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce besides a number of private sector entities are poised to attend this second SME Conference in the country.

Sher Ayub, the Chief Executive Officer of SMEDA, has said this conference would help the government to introduce new policies for development of industry and business in the country.Last year, in a conference titled "Investment opportunities in Pakistan" in Rome, Italy, Stefano Pontecorvo, the Italian Ambassador to Pakistan had said some 40 Italian companies are willing to explore opportunities in the Pakistani market. In December last year, the largest ever business delegation from Italy led by Ivan Scalfarotto, Deputy Minister for Economic Development, attended the Pakistan-Italy Investment Business Forum in Islamabad; capital of Pakistan. It was agreed to enhance the annual bilateral trade form current $ 1 billion to $ 1.8 billion. Italy is a major trading partner of Pakistan. It is Pakistan's largest export destination within the EU after the United Kingdom and Germany.