SMEDA reiterates push for regional SME cooperation at D-8 meeting

ISLAMABAD: The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has renewed its commitment to advancing regional economic cooperation through business-to-business linkages, exchange of knowledge, and market facilitation at the 9th meeting of the D-8 SME Governmental Bodies, according to a statement issued on Monday.

The meeting was held virtually and hosted by Nigeria’s Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN). It brought together heads and senior representatives of SME-related government bodies from D-8 member states to discuss practical steps aimed at strengthening SME development, promoting economic integration, and increasing intra-D-8 trade.

Representing SMEDA, which works under the Ministry of Industries and Production, Chief Executive Officer Nadia Jahangir Seth said the D-8 process was moving from discussion to implementation after what she described as constructive deliberations during the 8th meeting hosted by Pakistan.

She said Pakistan’s government, under the prime minister’s SME development vision, was giving special focus to micro and women-led enterprises as part of efforts to strengthen the broader SME sector.

Seth also pointed to a set of common issues affecting small and medium enterprises across D-8 member countries. These, she said, include restricted access to finance, slow technology adoption, weak market integration, and challenges related to international competitiveness.

According to the statement, she said these issues could be addressed through joint efforts under the D-8 framework, particularly by expanding knowledge sharing, building institutional connections, and coordinating policy support among member states.

Focus on implementation and trade goals

The latest meeting centred on practical cooperation among member countries as the grouping seeks to improve support systems for SMEs and deepen economic ties within the bloc. The discussion involved measures intended to help enterprises grow while also contributing to wider regional integration.

D-8 Secretary-General Ambassador Sohail Mahmood highlighted the importance of small and medium enterprises in meeting the bloc’s intra-D-8 trade target of $500 billion by 2030.

The statement said the participation of senior officials from member states reflected continued engagement on SME-related cooperation within the D-8 framework. Pakistan’s representation at the meeting underscored SMEDA’s stated intention to support collaborative mechanisms that can improve market access, strengthen institutional coordination, and encourage business linkages across the grouping.

The D-8 forum has increasingly focused on practical measures for SME development, with the latest session continuing discussions on how member states can work together on shared economic challenges and trade-related opportunities.