To commemorate World MSME Day 2026, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) and the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) jointly organized a stakeholder engagement session on Tuesday at Federation House, Karachi. World Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Day is observed globally under a United Nations resolution to recognize the vital role of MSMEs in achieving sustainable development, innovation, and economic prosperity.
Event Highlights and Key Participants
In a statement, FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh said the event brought together MSMEs, entrepreneurs, representatives of chambers and trade associations, women entrepreneurs, young entrepreneurs, financial institutions, academia, and other stakeholders to celebrate the contribution of MSMEs towards economic growth, employment generation, and innovation.
Regional Chief (South) SMEDA, Zeeshan Ahmed, highlighted the significance of World MSME Day and briefed participants on the authority’s mandate, services, and ongoing initiatives for MSME development. Under the Ministry of Industries and Production, SMEDA continues to facilitate MSMEs through business development services, entrepreneurship support, policy advocacy, access to finance facilitation, cluster development initiatives, export development support, and capacity-building programs, he stated.
Role of MSMEs in Economic Growth
SVP FPCCI, Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, highlighted the role of MSMEs in employment generation, innovation, and economic growth, and stressed close collaboration between the public and private sectors to strengthen MSMEs. Mashood Ali Khan, Member of the Board of Directors, SMEDA, highlighted the importance of entrepreneurship and enterprise development in strengthening Pakistan’s economy, and hailed the role played by MSMEs in creating employment opportunities, fostering innovation, and promoting inclusive economic growth.
Key Issues and Recommendations
During the interactive session, participants discussed key issues affecting MSMEs, including energy costs, access to finance, export development, and regulatory challenges. The session also provided an opportunity for participants to share recommendations aimed at improving the business environment and enhancing the competitiveness of local enterprises.
Commitment to Enabling Environment
The event concluded with a renewed commitment by participants to work collectively towards creating an enabling environment for entrepreneurship, enterprise growth, and job creation in Pakistan.
