Commerce Desk
ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) President Mohammad conomic development strategy, saying a strong SME sector is vital for industrialisation, job creation and higher exports. He made the remarks while interacting with visiting business delegations at the Chamber House.
He called for a comprehensive review of policies affecting small businesses, citing rising energy and production costs, complex taxation procedures and regulatory constraints. He emphasised promoting local manufacturing, encouraging value addition and creating a predictable business environment, and said greater support for women and young entrepreneurs would broaden economic participation.
Senior Vice President Mohammad Ashfaq Hussain Chatha focused on financial and administrative barriers to SME growth. He called for affordable credit, easier access to working capital, financing products tailored to small businesses, simpler tax compliance and better institutional coordination.
Vice President Mohammad Waqas Khan highlighted technology adoption and market access as keys to competitiveness. He said digital platforms, e-commerce and modern management tools could help SMEs streamline operations and reach new customers, and stressed the need for skills development, digital literacy and export-readiness programmes to help them integrate into global value chains.
