The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME), the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) are meeting on 23rd December 2009 to discuss promotion of 'Alternate Dispute Resolution' (ADR) in the articles of association of SME Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SMECC&I).

President Unisame Zulfikar Thaver said the IFC which is an
organization sponsored by the World Bank has expressed its desire to extend its institutional support to the SMECC&I  and has suggested that ADR which has been omitted in the SME policy and the SME act should be included in the agenda of the SMECC&I and the SME policy and the act should also be amended to include ADR for the benefit of the sector.

Pakistan Oman Investment Company Ltd (POICL) a joint venture of Pakistan and the Sultanate of Oman has expressed keen interest to promote the rice processing industry in Pakistan by financing the rice processors and exporters on short and long term basis.

In a meeting with the Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) Tariq Hassan Assistant Vice President Corporate Credit and Hassan Iqbal Manager Corporate Credit assured Zulfikar Thaver President Unisame that POICL would finance the Small & Medium sector to promote rice processing and value addition by short and medium term loans for modernisation of rice processing and milling plants by providing loans and leasing facilities to the entrepreneurs.
The Union President submitted the requirements of the rice processors and exporters and stated the scope for expansion of the industry which needs to adopt modern paddy drying, rice husking, parboiling and colour sorting machines and urged the POICL officials to finance the industry for mutual benefit on affordable markup.

Pakistan Oman Investment Company Ltd (POICL) a joint venture of Pakistan and the Sultanate of Oman has expressed keen interest to promote the rice processing industry in Pakistan by financing the rice processors and exporters on short and long term basis.

In a meeting with the Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) Tariq Hassan Assistant Vice President Corporate Credit and Hassan Iqbal Manager Corporate Credit assured Zulfikar Thaver President Unisame that POICL would finance the Small & Medium sector to promote rice processing and value addition by short and medium term loans for modernisation of rice processing and milling plants by providing loans and leasing facilities to the entrepreneurs.
The Union President submitted the requirements of the rice processors and exporters and stated the scope for expansion of the industry which needs to adopt modern paddy drying, rice husking, parboiling and colour sorting machines and urged the POICL officials to finance the industry for mutual benefit on affordable markup.

President, Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) Zulfikar Thaver and member National Committee SMEs (NCSMEs) has called upon the Federal Minister to comprehend the fact that the government needs to focus on the SME sector as the sector is capable of reviving the declining economy and no time should be lost in this endeavor.

He said considering the fact that the large sector has slowed down due to the prevailing conditions and is apprehensive of the increase in fuel prices, wages and cost of production which will hamper their feasibilities and put them out of gear for a certain period till prices stabilize as against this the SME sector is vibrant and has the built-in mechanism to overcome as the SME industries are owner driven.

Explaining the salient features of the sector he said this sector comprises of 96 percent of all enterprises in trading, manufacturing, services and agriculture and is capable of boosting the economy with a little pampering, said a statement issued here Sunday.

He emphasized that this sector needs land at concession, finance at affordable mark up and back up support of leasing, insurance, good logistics and technical support from institutions like the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR), Engineering Development Board (EDB) and other SME promotion and development organizations.

The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has welcomed the appointment of Mir Hazar Khan Bijrani as the Federal Minister of Industries and assured him of full support and co-operation in the promotion and development of the SME sector which comes under the ministry of industries

President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver on behalf of the SME sector welcomed the new federal minister of industries and informed him of the urgent need to give priority to SME issues and resolve them in the best interest of the majority sector which is the back bone of the economy and the engine of growth and the best avenue for self employment.

He said it is very important that the SMEs are given land at concession, finance at affordable mark up, technological help for product improvement, up gradation and modernization and encouragement and incentive to set up new industries and expand existing units.

He said banking, insurance and leasing are the pillars of the economy and need to be rejuvenated to facilitate the SMEs on modern lines.

OHSAS 18001 Lead Auditor Course

TQCSI Pakistan is an Australian based International Certification Registrar for ISO 9001 Quality Management System, ISO 14001 Environmental Management System, ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System, HACCP Food Safety System, OHSAS Occupational Health & Safety Management System etc., and has Training Partnership with JLB Australia.

Course Accreditation / Recognition
This training course and certificate of attainment is recognized by IRCA as meeting the requirement for IRCA certification to OHSAS 18001 Series Auditor / Lead Auditor course.

This course is certified by RABQSA, and meets the training portion of the requirements for certification of individual OHSAS Lead auditors.

Who Should Attend

This Course is designed for:

• CEO’s / Directors
• Health & Safety Assurance Managers
• Management Representatives
• Aspirant First, Second and Third party auditors
• OHSAS 18001 Implementation Teams
• Individuals who want to become Registered Lead Auditor
• Consultant
• Personnel who wish to pursue a career in the field of Occupational Health and Safety management

Learning Objective
By the end of the course delegate will be able to:

• Understand The purpose of OHSAS 18001
• Apply the requirements of OHSAS 18001
• Plan and conduct an audit
• Report an audit
• Undertake audit follow-up activities
• Prepare and advice their organization before third party assessment.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of their organization’s occupational Health & Safety management system.

ISO 14001 EMS Lead Auditor Course

TQCSI Pakistan is an Australian based International Certification Registrar for ISO 9001 Quality Management System, ISO 14001 Environmental Management System, ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System, HACCP Food Safety System, OHSAS Occupational Health & Safety Management System etc., and has Training Partnership with JLB Australia for Lead Auditor course.

Course Accreditation / Recognition
This training course and certificate of attainment is recognized by IRCA as meeting the requirement for IRCA certification to ISO 14001 Series Auditor / Lead Auditor course.

This course is certified by RABQSA, and meets the training portion of the requirements for certification of individual EMS Lead auditors.

Who Should Attend

This Course is designed for:

1. CEO’s / Directors
2. Environmental Assurance Managers
3. Management Representatives
4. Aspirant First, Second and Third party auditors
5. ISO 14001 Implementation Teams
6. Individuals who want to become Registered Lead Auditor
7. Consultant
8. Personnel who wish to pursue a career in the field of environmental management

Learning Objective
By the end of the course delegate will be able to:

1. Understand The purpose of a EMS
2. Apply the requirements of ISO 14001
3. Plan and conduct an audit
4. Report an audit
5. Undertake audit follow-up activities
6. Prepare and advice their organization before third party assessment.
7. Contribute to the development and improvement of their organization’s Environmental management system.

ISO 14001 EMS Lead Auditor Course

TQCSI Pakistan is an Australian based International Certification Registrar for ISO 9001 Quality Management System, ISO 14001 Environmental Management System, ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System, HACCP Food Safety System, OHSAS Occupational Health & Safety Management System etc., and has Training Partnership with JLB Australia for Lead Auditor course.

Course Accreditation / Recognition
This training course and certificate of attainment is recognized by IRCA as meeting the requirement for IRCA certification to ISO 14001 Series Auditor / Lead Auditor course.

This course is certified by RABQSA, and meets the training portion of the requirements for certification of individual EMS Lead auditors.

Who Should Attend

This Course is designed for:

1. CEO’s / Directors
2. Environmental Assurance Managers
3. Management Representatives
4. Aspirant First, Second and Third party auditors
5. ISO 14001 Implementation Teams
6. Individuals who want to become Registered Lead Auditor
7. Consultant
8. Personnel who wish to pursue a career in the field of environmental management

Learning Objective
By the end of the course delegate will be able to:

1. Understand The purpose of a EMS
2. Apply the requirements of ISO 14001
3. Plan and conduct an audit
4. Report an audit
5. Undertake audit follow-up activities
6. Prepare and advice their organization before third party assessment.
7. Contribute to the development and improvement of their organization’s Environmental management system.

TQCSI Pakistan is an Australian based International Certification Registrar for ISO 9001 Quality Management System, ISO 14001 Environmental Management System, ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System, HACCP Food Safety System, OHSAS Occupational Health & Safety Management System etc., and has Training Partnership with JLB Australia for Lead Auditor course.

Course Accreditation / Recognition
This training course and certificate of attainment is recognized by IRCA as meeting the requirement for IRCA certification to ISO 9001 Series Auditor / Lead Auditor course.

This course is certified by RABQSA, and meets the training portion of the requirements for certification of individual QMS Lead auditors.

Who Should Attend
This Course is designed for:

• CEO’s / Directors
• Quality Assurance Managers
• Management Representatives
• Aspirant First, Second and Third party auditors
• ISO 9001 Implementation Teams
• Individuals who want to become Registered Lead Auditor
• Consultant
• Personnel who wish to pursue a career in the field of quality management

TQCSI Pakistan is providing management systems Certification Services under the license agreement of TQCS International, anAustralian based International Certification Registrar for ISO 9001 Quality Management System, ISO 14001 Environmental Management System, ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System, HACCP Food Safety System, OHSAS Occupational Health & Safety Management System etc., TQCSI Pakistan is providing Lead Auditor, Internal Auditing, Awareness & Documentation Training on various Management Systems. TQCSI Pakistan also organize various Courses on different Management Topics.

TQCSI Pakistan is providing management systems Certification Services under the license agreement of TQCS International, anAustralian based International Certification Registrar for ISO 9001 Quality Management System, ISO 14001 Environmental Management System, ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System, HACCP Food Safety System, OHSAS Occupational Health & Safety Management System etc., TQCSI Pakistan is providing Lead Auditor, Internal Auditing, Awareness & Documentation Training on various Management Systems. TQCSI Pakistan also organize various Courses on different Management Topics.

The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME)  has urged the government to impose upon the sugar mills to release sugar to the SME merchants who are  holding  delivery orders to enable them to supply sugar to the retailers without break.

President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said there is sufficient sugar lying in warehouses but the stockist are with holding sales to benefit due to the increase in international price of sugar which has jumped to USD 525 per metric ton and accordingly the landed cost of imported sugar would come to Rupees 55 per kilogram and even raw sugar is priced not less than USD 484 per metric ton in international market.

The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has urged the government to direct the sugar mills to release sugar to the SME merchants who are holding delivery orders enabling them to supply sugar to the retailers without any break.

President Unisame Zulfikar Thaver said there is sufficient sugar lying in warehouses but the stockists are withholding sales to benefit due to the increase in international price of sugar which has jumped to $525 per metric tonne and accordingly the landed cost of imported sugar would come to Rs55 per kilogram and even raw sugar is priced not less than $484 per metric tonne in international market.

The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has invited the urgent attention of the Ministry of Communications  (MoC) to the trouble and hardship caused to the SMEs due to the issuance of cell connections to persons who have submitted stolen photo copies of bonafide subscribers.

President of Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has said that the malpractices of celluar companies have caused panic among citizens. He said that the issuance of multiple SIMs on single identity cards is indeed a matter of great concern.

President Unisame, Zulfikar Thaver has also invited the urgent attention of the Ministry of Communications (MoC) to the trouble and hardship caused to the SMEs due to the issuance of cell connections to persons who have submitted stolen photo copies of bonafide subscribers.

Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA) in collaboration with Federal Board of Revenue, Training & Research Department is pleased to announce Training on “Concept of VAT & Practice”. This training is designed to enable the participants to gain clear understanding of Value Added Taxation System (VAT) and to gain acquaintance with the VAT system prevalent in different countries. It will also help to enhance the knowledge of the participants regarding VAT practice and procedure.

Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA) in collaboration with Federal Board of Revenue, Training & Research Department is pleased to announce Training on “Concept of VAT & Practice”. This training is designed to enable the participants to gain clear understanding of Value Added Taxation System (VAT) and to gain acquaintance with the VAT system prevalent in different countries. It will also help to enhance the knowledge of the participants regarding VAT practice and procedure.

Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA) in collaboration with Federal Board of Revenue, Training & Research Department is pleased to announce Training on “E-Filing of Sales Tax Return & Statements”. The training aims to provide exposure among the SMEs regarding E-filing of sales tax return & statements.

Small & Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), in collaboration with ACCA Pakistan and Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) is pleased to announce a One-Day Training Program on “Accounting & Book Keeping” at Lahore. The program has been designed to equip the accounting professionals, especially from Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to enhance their capabilities regarding the “Accounting & Book Keeping”, activities and their skills to manage day to day accounting operations.

Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA) in collaboration with Federal Board of Revenue, Training & Research Department is pleased to announce Training on “Sales Tax Refund Claim”. This training is designed to equip the business community with clear understanding and knowledge about the Sales tax refund claim procedure.

Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA) in collaboration with Federal Board of Revenue, Training & Research Department is pleased to announce Training on “Import & Export Documentation”. The workshop aims to provide training among the SMEs regarding documentation, procedures, regulations and registration for Import & Export.