As part of its SME internationalization efforts, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has reaffirmed its commitment to promote regional economic cooperation through B2B linkages, knowledge sharing and market facilitation.
SMEDA held out the assurance while participating in the 9th Meeting of the D-8 SME Governmental Bodies - in line with the Government of Pakistan’s vision of making SMEs globally competitive.
The member states expressed their shared resolve to strengthen SME cooperation and advance an implementation-focused regional collaboration agenda. The virtual meeting, hosted by SMEDAN (SME development agency of Nigeria), brought together heads and senior representatives of SME governmental bodies from D-8 member states to deliberate on practical measures for enhancing SME development, economic integration and intra-D-8 trade.
Representing SMEDA under the guidance of Ministry of Industries and Production, Chief Executive Officer Nadia Jahangir Seth said that following the constructive deliberations of the 8th Meeting hosted by Pakistan, the D-8 platform is now transitioning toward implementation-driven cooperation through structured action plans and stronger institutional coordination.
Highlighting the critical role of SMEs as a source of employment, innovation and inclusive economic growth, Ms Seth underlined the common challenges faced by SMEs across member states, including limited access to finance, technology adoption, market integration and international competitiveness. She stressed that collective efforts under the D-8 framework can effectively address these challenges through knowledge sharing, institutional linkages and coordinated policy support.
She said SMEDA’s recent initiatives aimed at promoting SME internationalization through engagement with Trade and Investment Officers to facilitate SME participation in international trade fairs and business delegations, support for SME certifications to meet international compliance requirements and promotion of subcontracting opportunities to improve SME integration into global value chains.
She expressed Pakistan’s appreciation to the Government of Nigeria and the Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation Secretariat for convening the important meeting and sustaining momentum toward deeper regional cooperation.
Addressing the meeting, D-8 Secretary-General Ambassador Sohail Mahmood underscored the central role of SMEs as drivers of growth, employment and innovation across D-8 economies. He also highlighted the critical role of SMEs in achieving the intra-D-8 trade target of USD 500 billion by 2030.
He said initiatives such as Malaysia’s focus on Green MSMEs and medical tourism and strategic contributions from Azerbaijan and Nigeria through structured Action Plans aiming at delivering measurable outcomes were laudable. He asked the member states to convene dedicated technical sessions to refine and consolidate the two Action Plans to finalize the texts ahead of the next (10th) meeting, where their formal adoption is envisaged.
Mahmood also called for strengthening collaboration with global partners like UNDESA & UNIDO, accelerating digital transformation within SME ecosystems, promoting knowledge-sharing and capacity building across member states and advancing operationalization of D-8 SME Centre as hub for connectivity.
The participants reaffirmed their shared resolve to strengthen SME ecosystems, enhance intra-D-8 trade and advance inclusive and sustainable economic growth across the region. They complimented Nigeria for tabling a structured draft Action Plan for the D-8 SME Centre in Abuja.
The meeting concluded with a consensus on structured follow-up, sustained coordination through designated focal points and the Secretariat, and collective ownership of the agreed Action Plans for their timely implementation and contribution to strengthening SME ecosystems and enhancing intra-D-8 trade.
