Lahore: The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has reiterated its commitment to enhancing regional economic cooperation through business-to-business linkages and market facilitation at the 9th Meeting of the D-8 SME Governmental Bodies. The virtual meeting, hosted by Nigeria's SME development agency, SMEDAN, convened senior representatives from D-8 member states to discuss strategies for boosting SME development and economic integration.

According to Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority, the member states collectively expressed their determination to fortify SME cooperation and push forward a regional collaboration agenda focused on practical implementation. Nadia Jahangir Seth, CEO of SMEDA, highlighted Pakistan's focus on empowering micro and women enterprises, aligning with the country's SME development vision. She noted common challenges faced by SMEs, such as limited access to finance and market integration, and emphasized the potential for collective action under the D-8 framework to address these issues.

SMEDA's recent initiatives include facilitating SME participation in international trade fairs, supporting SME certifications to meet compliance standards, and promoting subcontracting opportunities. The meeting also acknowledged the critical role of SMEs in driving growth and innovation, with D-8 Secretary-General Ambassador Sohail Mahmood emphasizing the need to reach a USD 500 billion intra-D-8 trade target by 2030. The gathering concluded with a consensus on structured follow-up and sustained coordination to strengthen SME ecosystems and enhance regional trade.