LAHORE: The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s SME ecosystem in 2026, with a focus on access to finance, digital training, formalisation and export readiness.
A senior SMEDA official said the outgoing year was marked by institutional reforms, international engagement and targeted initiatives aimed at creating an enabling business environment, particularly for women entrepreneurs and startups. He said the authority plans to scale up implementation and outreach in the year ahead.
Working under the guidance of the Ministry of Industries and Production, SMEDA undertook several initiatives in line with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s vision to make the economy more resilient and competitive. These included efforts to bridge the financing gap for SMEs through partnerships with microfinance institutions such as Akhuwat, the Pakistan Microfinance Network and Mobilink Microfinance Bank.
To boost export readiness, SMEDA, in collaboration with the Punjab Information Technology Board, launched an SME Certification and International Accreditation Grant Programme to help businesses meet global standards and access international markets.
Women entrepreneurship remained a key pillar, with SMEDA advancing capacity-building, digital inclusion and market access initiatives, alongside developing Pakistan’s first National Women’s Entrepreneurship Policy. The authority also partnered with the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry to mark International Women Entrepreneurship Day and engage women chambers across the country.
SMEDA strengthened data-driven policymaking by signing a memorandum of understanding with the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics to enhance data sharing and evidence-based planning for SMEs.
On the international front, SMEDA expanded its global engagement through participation in platforms such as the D-8 SME Governmental Bodies meeting and the OIC-SMENET launch, while developing partnerships with countries including Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia. It also represented Pakistan at international trade and sector-specific events in Russia and China.
