RECORDRE REPORT

LAHORE: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in order to create awareness about its ‘Roadmap for Promotion of SME Banking’ which is aimed at enhancing credit to SME sector, has launched an awareness creating program to educate different chambers and associations.

The State Bank in a letter to the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) has expressed its desire to engage the association members in a workshop to create awareness among its members over the SBP’s various initiatives including creation of an enabling regulatory framework, market development initiatives, awareness creation and capacity building/training programs for banks, introduction of SME financing targets and roadmap for promotion of SME banking.

The letter has also identified three locations where these awareness creation workshops can be arranged including Lahore, Muridke and Okara.

REAP Chairman Sami Ullah Naeem welcoming the SBP’s initiative to enhance credit to SME sector in the country said that availability of finances to SME would not only pace up the economic activity but also create more jobs and strengthening the national economy.

Sami said the association is going to hold ‘buyers recognition award’ on Feb 20 in Dubai to reckon the services of those who are buying the Pakistani rice and enhancing commodity’s export from the country. The Association would look into the possibilities of arranging workshops with the SBP on SME financing after these awards, he concluded.