LAHORE (Dunya News) – Pakistan’s Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has reinforced its commitment to strengthening regional economic cooperation and expanding global opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises during the 9th Meeting of the D-8 SME Governmental Bodies.
The virtual forum, hosted by Nigeria’s SME development agency SMEDAN, brought together senior officials and representatives from D-8 member states to discuss practical measures aimed at improving SME development, increasing intra-D-8 trade and enhancing economic integration across member countries. The discussions were held in line with Pakistan’s broader vision of making its SMEs more competitive in international markets.
Representing SMEDA under the guidance of the Ministry of Industries and Production, Chief Executive Officer Nadia Jahangir Seth said the D-8 platform was now entering a more implementation-focused phase following the outcomes of the eighth meeting hosted by Pakistan. She noted that member countries were moving towards structured action plans and stronger institutional coordination to accelerate regional cooperation.
Seth highlighted the central role played by SMEs in generating employment, encouraging innovation and supporting inclusive economic growth across developing economies. She pointed out that businesses across D-8 countries continue to face several shared challenges, including limited access to finance, difficulties in adopting modern technologies, barriers to market integration and increasing pressure to remain internationally competitive.
She stressed that collaborative efforts under the D-8 framework could help address those obstacles through coordinated policy support, institutional partnerships and greater knowledge sharing among member states.
During the meeting, SMEDA also highlighted several initiatives designed to support SME internationalisation in Pakistan. These include engagement with Trade and Investment Officers to facilitate the participation of Pakistani SMEs in international trade fairs and business delegations, support for certifications required to meet global compliance standards and the promotion of subcontracting opportunities to improve integration into international value chains.
Pakistan also expressed appreciation to the Government of Nigeria and the D-8 Secretariat for sustaining momentum towards deeper regional cooperation and convening the latest round of discussions focused on practical implementation.
D-8 Secretary-General Ambassador Sohail Mahmood underscored the growing importance of SMEs as engines of economic growth, innovation and job creation across member economies. He said strengthening SME ecosystems would be critical in achieving the bloc’s ambitious intra-D-8 trade target of $500 billion by 2030.
Mahmood praised several ongoing initiatives across member countries, including Malaysia’s emphasis on Green MSMEs and medical tourism, as well as contributions by Azerbaijan and Nigeria through structured action plans designed to produce measurable outcomes.
He urged member states to organise dedicated technical sessions to refine and consolidate the proposed action plans before the next D-8 meeting, where formal adoption is expected. The secretary-general also called for stronger partnerships with international organisations such as the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
The meeting further focused on accelerating digital transformation within SME ecosystems, improving capacity-building programmes and enhancing knowledge-sharing mechanisms among member states. Discussions also centred on operationalising the proposed D-8 SME Centre in Abuja as a regional hub aimed at improving connectivity and cooperation between businesses across participating countries.
Participants collectively reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening SME ecosystems, promoting sustainable economic growth and increasing trade within the D-8 bloc. Member states also welcomed Nigeria’s structured draft Action Plan for the D-8 SME Centre, describing it as a significant step towards more coordinated regional engagement.
The meeting concluded with consensus on sustained coordination through designated focal points and the D-8 Secretariat, alongside a commitment to ensuring timely implementation of agreed action plans aimed at expanding SME collaboration and boosting intra-regional trade.