Lahore, October 21, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Festival of North will prove to be a big milestone in promotion of the tourism based SMEs in the country. It was stated by Mr. Hashim Raza, Chief Executive Officer of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the four-day business and cultural fair jointly organized by SMEDA and PTDC in Gilgit Baltistan’s upper Hunza town “Passu”. The inaugural ceremony was largely attended by the local and foreign tourists along with the high officials of SMEDA, PTDC and government of GB, who spoke on this occasion.
CEO SMEDA said that Tourism is closely linked with SMEs in hospitality services, tour guides, sports activities and products like souvenirs, eatables and handicrafts. But, they have not been able to take full advantage of the growing tourism in Pakistan due to the limited range of products and services, which also lack in product development, diversification, categories, packaging, visibility and marketing. Though services have been improved but are still not at par with world standards.
Mr. Hashim Raza told that Tourism had been identified in the recent SME Policy as a priority sector, therefore, promotion of SMEs within the tourism sector is part of the main action plan of the SME Policy and Festival of the North will prove to be a strong opening towards this direction by bring all stakeholders of the sector together. The Festival will include a lot of attractions for visitors as well as for SMEs that include SME stalls, Local foods, Cultural Music, Bonfire, Camping eats.
This is our first year and we will focus on brining tourists to SMEs at the festival, he said adding that Products would be displayed and through other attractions, people would be encouraged to buy SME products and services, he said adding that on government level, our ministry of Industries and Production as well as Govt of GB were fully supporting our initiative and PTDC had partnered as a main organizer along with the private sector that had also stepped up with active participation.
Since it is not a one-time activity therefore, we will work with local SMEs throughout the next year and keep improving their standards for a bigger better festival in 2023, CEO SMEDA said. Under the current Festival, the festivities have been spread from Passu to various towns across Gojal valley, he said assuring that “Festival of the North” would be continued as an annual episode by focusing on improvement and diversification of the products and services of the local SMEs.
It is notable that the Festival is furnished with a large number of local SMEs Stalls displaying Handicrafts, Food Items, Horticultural Products and the services related with tourism sector, besides the cultural activities like camping, bonfire, fruit plucking and local traditional music.
For more information, contact:
DGM (Admin. and PR)
Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA)
4th Floor, Building No.3, Aiwan-e-Iqbal Complex,
Egerton Road, Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-111-111-456
Fax: +92-42-36304926-7
Email: aligohar@smeda.org.pk, helpdesk@smeda.org.pk
Website: www.smeda.org.pk