SMEDA Pledges to Scale Up Support for SMEs in 2026

By Dr. Ansab Ali
Lahore, Pakistan
LAHORE — As Pakistan enters the New Year with renewed emphasis on economic stability and growth, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the country’s SME ecosystem through expanded access to finance, formalization, digital capacity-building and export readiness in 2026.
A senior SMEDA official said the outgoing year was marked by institutional reforms, international engagement and targeted initiatives designed to create a more enabling business environment for small and medium enterprises, particularly women entrepreneurs and startups.
“SMEDA is now poised to further empower SMEs by scaling up its activities and strengthening implementation in the year ahead,” the official said.
Operating under the guidance of the Ministry of Industries & Production and aligned with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s vision of a more resilient and competitive economy, SMEDA undertook multiple initiatives in 2025 to address key challenges faced by SMEs. These included bridging the finance gap, improving export readiness, promoting women entrepreneurship and engaging with industrial clusters nationwide to better understand and resolve sector-specific issues.
Access to finance remains one of the most significant barriers for SMEs in Pakistan. To address this, SMEDA acted as a bridge between small businesses and financial institutions, launching financial literacy initiatives and forging partnerships with microfinance organizations including Akhuwat, the Pakistan Microfinance Network (PMN) and Mobilink Microfinance Bank Limited (MMBL).
To boost national exports, SMEDA, in collaboration with the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), launched the SME Certification and International Accreditation Grant Program, aimed at helping businesses meet global quality standards, reduce certification costs and improve access to international markets. According to the official, the program is being implemented transparently, with applications processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Women entrepreneurship remained a central pillar of SMEDA’s agenda in 2025. Alongside the development of Pakistan’s first National Women’s Entrepreneurship Policy, the authority rolled out initiatives focused on capacity-building, digital and financial inclusion, and market access to enable women-led businesses to play a stronger role in achieving national economic goals.
Recently, SMEDA partnered with the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) to mark International Women Entrepreneurship Day, bringing together heads of 21 women chambers of commerce and industry from across the country. The event highlighted government commitment to addressing barriers faced by women entrepreneurs. SMEDA and FPCCI also hosted women chambers from Sindh to raise their concerns and explore solutions with government support.
Strengthening the data foundation for SME policymaking was another major milestone. At DataFest 2025, SMEDA signed a memorandum of understanding with the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) to enhance data sharing and promote evidence-based planning. The collaboration is expected to support more informed and targeted policy interventions across SME sectors.
SMEDA also expanded its global engagement in 2025. In a landmark initiative, it hosted the first virtual session (8th meeting) of D-8 SME Governmental Bodies, with participation from Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Türkiye. Delegates exchanged views on SME-led growth and regional integration.
As part of efforts to support SME internationalization, SMEDA developed new partnerships with Azerbaijan, Belarus, Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia. It also represented Pakistan at the launch of OIC-SMENET and the Halal Food Expo in Baku, promoting Pakistani SMEs within the Islamic world and encouraging cross-border cooperation.
In October, SMEDA set up a national stall at BIOPROM 2025 in Russia, showcasing Pakistani SME products and exploring opportunities in biotechnology and related sectors. During the same month, it also held discussions with a Chinese firm on promoting electric vehicle subcontracting in Pakistan, aiming to integrate local SMEs into emerging global EV value chains in line with national goals of industrial diversification, technology transfer and green growth.
Looking ahead, SMEDA is preparing to implement a three-year business plan, being finalized in consultation with global consultancy AT Kearney under the supervision of the Ministry of Industries & Production. Once approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the plan aims to drive productivity, boost exports and expand women’s participation in the economy. Key targets include increasing SMEs’ contribution to GDP, strengthening exports, simplifying regulations, enabling digital onboarding, expanding access to public procurement and promoting climate-resilient growth.
In early 2026, SMEDA will also organize the “Made-in-Pakistan – SME Cluster Showcase Expo 2026”, which will highlight the diversity and strength of SME clusters from across the country. The event is expected to provide market exposure, investment linkages and networking opportunities, alongside policy discussions and awards recognizing excellence in the SME sector.