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LAHORE, Jan 24 (APP):Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Industries & Production Haroon Akhtar Khan inaugurated Pakistan’s first national SME cluster exhibition, “Made in Pakistan – SME Cluster Showcase Expo 2026” here at Expo Center on Saturday.
The three-day Expo, being organized by Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) under the supervision of Ministry of Industries & Production (MoIP), features cluster-based pavilions and exhibitor stalls, and a platform for B2B (business to business), B2G (business to government) and B2I (business to industry) matchmaking, policy dialogues, technical sessions and an SME Awards ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion, SAPM Haroon Akhtar Khan said the inaugural “Made in Pakistan – SME Cluster Showcase Expo 2026” is envisioned as Pakistan’s flagship national platform to showcase the strength, diversity and export readiness of SME clusters from across the country.
He noted that the Expo would prove to be a shift toward cluster-based and data-driven SME development in line with the economic development vision of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “The initiative is designed to present MSMEs coherently to the market and systematically link them with sourcing, investment and institutional support. We hope to make it a regular yearly event to enhance marketing capability of the MSMEs by making them compatible with the world markets,” he said.
He said: “We have brought several clusters from all over Pakistan, with special focus on Balochistan, AJK and GB, after meticulous selection through chambers of commerce and industries and trade bodies. There is a dedicated pavilion having 25 exhibitors each of women entrepreneurs and micro enterprises.”
Among foreign delegates are representatives from Malaysia, Azerbaijan, Kenya Embassy, Russia Embassy and Bangladesh.
SMEDA CEO Nadia Jahangir Seth said, the Expo marks a defining moment for Pakistan’s MSME sector. She explained that, for the first time, diverse SME clusters from across the country are being showcased on a single national platform, with a strong focus on outcomes rather than display alone.
She said the Expo showcases value-added products from diversified clusters including textiles and handicraft, sports goods, leather, surgical instruments, cutlery, furniture, agribusiness, marble and granite, and light engineering.
“In order to translate these commitments into real, on-ground support for MSMEs, SMEDA is actively working on a three-year Business Plan which aims to make these enterprises bankable, promote internationalization, digital literacy, women entrepreneurship, subcontracting and vendor development, and build climate-resilient enterprises. We are working to make our MSMEs more competitive and enterprising with global and domestic initiatives,” she said.
The inaugural ceremony was followed by a symposium on “SME Development in Pakistan – Challenges and Policy Solutions” and panel discussions on “Vision for SME Development” and “SME Financial Ecosystem”.
On this occasion, Federal Minister Board of Investment Qaiser A. Sheikh commended SMEDA for organizing such an event which reflects commitment of SAPM Haroon Akhtar Khan under vision of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Zaki Ijaz of FPCCI and SMEDA BoD member Ms Aasia Saail also spoke.
Representatives of the Expo sponsors – Habib Bank Limited, Bank Al Habib, Bank of Punjab and Pak Suzuki Motors – reaffirmed their commitment to support the government initiatives for promoting Pakistan’s MSME sector.
It is to mention that on Sunday, seminar on “Digital Finance and Fintech for MSMEs” and panel discussions on “Pakistan’s Economic Landscape” and “Industry-Academia” linkages will be held on the sidelines of the expo.
The concluding day (Monday) would have “Banana Fiber FAO Project Inception Workshop”.
Representatives of the premier trade bodies, foreign SME development agencies, government development organizations and SMEDA BoD will address the sessions.