The 6TH Pakistan SME Conference 2012 organized annually by SHAMROCK Conferences International will be held on September 5, 2012 at the Marriott Hotel, Karachi. A number of issues now crippling the SME sector in Pakistan will be taken up for discussions and policy interventions.

Several key organizations such as the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Small & Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), Business Support Fund (BSF) of the Ministry of Finance and Union of Small & Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) are expected to participate in the conference which now serves as a bench mark to address the issues and pressing needs of the SME sector in Pakistan.

Eminent speakers and representatives of several sub-sectors of the SME sector in Pakistan such as the Leasing Association of Pakistan, the Insurance Association of Pakistan, the Logistics Association of Pakistan, and Income Tax Association; in addition to the Pakistan Banks’ Association, Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the CPLC and others have been invited to dilate on subjects which range from regulatory inconsistency, difficulties in SMEs access to banking services, taxation, transportation of goods, power and energy issues, and security concerns.

Menin Rodrigues, Chairman, SHAMROCK Conferences International & Convener of the conference said, “The SME Conference is now an annual feature of our conferences program and plays an important role in highlighting the problems faced by the SME sector in Pakistan. There are 3.2 million economic establishments in the country of which more than 90% are SMEs. It employs 75% of the non-agricultural workforce and contributes 30% towards the national GDP. The forum is open to all stakeholders to deliberate on matters that are important to support the life-line of Pakistan’s economy.”

Participants may register at the conferences website at www.shamrockconferences.net