KARACHI: The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) discussed SME access to finance with Mubashir Ahmad senior vice president, Ajmal Habib vice president and Khurram Tanveer head of SME banking department National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) at Unisame House Karachi, says a Press release.
President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver welcomed the NBP team with appreciation of their role in SME financing. He said the sector expects the NBP to cover every aspect of financing and also to develop new products.
The Unisame team comprising of experts in SME financing namely Asif Hyatt, Asif Vohra, Atiqua Vally, Abdul Rahman Baig, Tahira Baig, Beerbal and Zaffar Abbas suggested franchise financing to promote franchises of popular domestic brands in food, clothing, fashion, leather and electronic goods and also other businesses.
The SMEs are in need of project, bridge, farming, mining, start-ups, training centres, clinics and financing for hospitals and schools the union experts elaborated. They also sought prompt disposal of financing under Sindh Entrepreneurs Development Fund (SEDF) where the Kibor mark-up is paid by the fund.
Thaver said it is important that modern concepts are adopted and appreciated the role of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in introducing warehouse receipt financing and collateral management.
He appreciated the pioneering efforts of NBP in PMYL and urged the government to reopen the Prime Minister’s Youth Loan scheme under PM Imran Khan’s youth promotion and poverty alleviation agenda.
Mubashir Ahmad SVP Product & Policy department whilst appreciating the role of UNISAME for creating awareness, identifying the impediments and suggesting remedies said NBP is already financing the requirements of the sector and invited the SMEs to come to NBP with their requirements for finance and assured prompt support for all viable applications.
The officials of NBP offered to facilitate the SMEs in all possible ways with an open mind for new products under their risk management system.