Pakistan

The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has set up SME Business Facilitation Centre (SMEBFC) to facilitate the SMEs in obtaining finance at competitive rates, comprehensive insurance cover, leasing on best terms, legal aid, trade marks and copy rights registration, product improvement services, marketing and logistics services under one roof.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has decided to provide the following relief in respect of refinance availed by exporters under the export finance scheme for fiscal year 2007-08 to address the problems facing the exporters.

The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan has evolved a plan to establish an exclusive Export Credit Agency with adequate capital support from the government.

DF Deutsche Forfaiting met with TDAP as it is looking to enter into the market with export finance products to facilitate the country's exports under the Rapid Growth Strategy.

The government will spend more than Rs13bn on the development of SMEs until 2015.

The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan will assist in strengthening the Pakistan Export Finance Guarantee Agency.

The government has decided to restructure Pakistan Export Finance Guarantee Agency to offer export credit insurance.

The first ever SME policy was launched in Islamabad to spur economic growth with the aim of poverty reduction, job creation and entrepreneurialship.

SMEs, which are the backbone of the economy, emerged as more prone to default than other businesses and were second to corporates in the list of defaulting sectors.

State Bank of Pakistan has asked the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA) to look into the possibility of establishing a small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME) guarantee scheme.