Title: COMSATS Experience of Networking SMEs in Pakistan
1COMSATS Experience of Networking SMEs in Pakistan
- Dr. Hameed A. Khan
- Executive Director
- COMSATS
2COMSATS
Comission on Science and Technology for
Sustainable Development in the South
Brainchild of Dr. Abdus Salam Legacy of his
Vision and his Untiring Efforts for ST
3Commission on Science and Technology for
Sustainable Development in the South
Twenty-One countries are member from three
continents Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Following are some pro-active members of COMSATS
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Senegal
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Tanzania
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Zimbabwe
- Bangladesh
- China
- Colombia
- Egypt
- Ghana
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Nigeria
4Mission
- Science Technology Led Sustainable
Development (socio-economic) in the South
through South-South North- South Cooperation
5Organizational Objectives
- Sensitizing the Countries of the South to
- The Centrality of Science
- Allocate Resources for Research
- Integrate Science Policy with National and
Regional plans - Networking of International Science and
Technology Centers - Leadership and Support for Regional Cooperation
initiatives - Training
- Exchange of Scientists
- Scholarships
- Joint Research Projects
6COMSATS Thrust Areas
- Key Thrust Areas are
- Agriculture Biotechnology
- Information Communication Technologies (ICTs)
- Natural Products
- Materials
- Climate Change and Environment Protection
- Mathematical Modelling
7Network of Intl ST Centres of Excellence
- The Biosphere Reserve Beni, Biology Station
(BBS), Bolivia - National Research Centre for Agrobiology, Brazil
- International Centre of Climate Environmental
Sciences (ICCES), China - Centro Internacional de Fisica Edificio, Colombia
- National Research Centre (NRC), Egypt
- International Centre for Material Science and
Technology (ICMST) , Ghana - Iranian Research Organization for Science and
Technology (IROST), Iran - International Centre for Environmental and
Nuclear Sciences (ICENS), Jamaica - Royal Scientific Society (RSS), Jordan
- National Mathematical Centre (NMC), Nigeria
- International Centre for Chemical Biological
Sciences (ICCBS), Pakistan - Higher Institute for Applied Science and
Technology (HIAST), Syria - Tanzania Industrial Research and Development
Organisation (TIRDO), Tanzania - Marmara Research Centre (MRC), Turkey
8Network Objectives
- To develop and maintain critical Mass of
World-class Scientists and Technologists - To develop indigenous capacities
- Reduce brain-drain
- Transfer of technology among the members
- Regional Cooperation, in particular South-South
Cooperation - ST Assessment and Management
- Joint Ventures amongst Members
9COMSATS ACCREDITATION BY UNITED NATIONS AS AN
INTER-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
- COMSATS was accredited as an Inter-Governmental
Organization (IGO) with the United Nations
Protocol and Liaison Service. - The international recognition came prior to the
UN World Summit on Sustainable Development
(WSSD), held from 26 August 4 September, 2002,
at Johannesburg, South Africa.
10PROGRAMMES
- Network of International ST Centres of
Excellence in the South (14 Nodes) - Short-term Training, Ph.D. Scholarship, Exchange
of Scientists - COMSATS Internet Services 1996
- COMSATS IT Institute (CIIT) 1998
- University Campuses
- Islamabad Campus, Lahore Campus, Wah Campus,
Abbottabad Campus and Attock Campus,
COMSATS-COMSTECH-MTM IT Centre Karachi - COMSATS-COMSTECH-Syria IT Centre, Damascus
- COMSATS COMSTECH MTM IT Centre, Karachi
11Programmes
- SMEs Development (China Expo - October 99)
- Renewable Energy Programmes (UNESCO)
- Publications (Science Vision (Since 1995), News
Views (2001) and a series of ST books on
specialised topics) - French Online (Alliance Francaise)
- Online Scientific and Technical Information
Centre - (HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, Karachi)
12Programmes
- Contractual Research (Plant Tissue Culture
Technology NARC) - Tele-health Centre (Pak-MT-USA-Inc)
- COMSATS-CERN-High Energy Computation Centre
- Bio-technology Portal
- ISESCO Web Portal
-
13COMSATS established a biotechnology portal for
the Government of Pakistan www.ncb.gov.pk
14COMSATS established a Islamic World Science Net
for ISESCO, Morocco www.icpsr.org.ma
15 NETWORKING SMEs IN PAKISTAN
- COMSATS UNIDO SMEDA SBFC Collaboration for
an - INDUSTRIAL INFORMATION NETWORK (IIN)
- SMEs Role in Developing Economies
- SMEs 400,000
- Leather and Textile Sector 140,000
- Major Job Opportunity Provider
- SMEs are Earning Foreign Exchange (25Export)
- Contribute 18 to GDP
16The Project Industrial Information Network (IIN)
- Largest source of Information Dissemination
- Biggest E-commerce portal in Pakistan (one stop
shop) - Provide services in Urdu English
- Specifically designed for SMEs
- Market Pakistani Products Worldwide
17Issues Related to SMEs
- Lack of Knowledge
- International Standards
- Technology update
- International Market Business opportunity
- Entrepreneurship Development
- Financial Services
- Training HRD
- Government Regulation
- Export regulation
- Taxation
- Raw material
- Marketing
18NEED ASSESMENT (GALLOP)
- Thematic Lines
- E-Readiness
- Information Needs
- Channels of Information
- Expectations from Information Network
- Usage Pattern of Credit Card
- Share of Exports
-
- Industrial Sectors
- Textile
- Leather
19Project Objectives
- To increase e-Readiness of SMEs
- To provide a virtual market place in order to
promote SMEs - To provide a one-stop-shop to SMEs formal major
industrial sectors - To help improve quality of products/services of
SMEs - To provide a platform to SMEs to reach new
markets and clients - To provide information on latest technologies
- To offer distance-learning courses
- To increase inflows of SMEs investments
20SERVICES OF IIN
- Information Services
- Information to be available in Urdu English
- SME related rules, regulations, policies
- Information on markets
- Training development
- Sources of finance, raw material and new
technologies - Investment opportunities
- Access to technology
- Access to Service Providers
- Certification (ISO)/Quality Assurance
- Online Trading
- Trade leads and RFQ submission facility
- Forms and Procedures related to regular business
operations - Industrial cooperation activities
21SERVICES OF IIN
- E-Commerce Services
- Biggest E-commerce portal in Pakistan
- SMEs be able to setup and run virtual shops with
minimal technical assistance - Trading on raw material to finished goods
- E-Auctions facility
- Developed specifically with Pakistani market
(SMEs) in mind - Virtual Marketplace
22Target Beneficiaries
- Small and Medium Enterprises
- Local Manufacturers Exporters
- Initially from leather and textile
- Later from all SME sectors
- Trade Associations
- Chamber of Commerce
- IT Infrastructure Providers
- Service Providers and Support Institutions for
SME sectors
23Project Benefits
- Enhanced productivity and Value Addition
- Improved Quality
- Access to world markets
- Increased business activity
- International trade
- Higher exports
- Access to technology
- Training
- Increased inflow of investment
- Low Inflation, employment and reduced level of
poverty
24COMSATS Contribution
- Software Development
- Technical plan
- Requirement analysis
- Design development
- Testing deployment
- Management maintenance
- Web Hosting
- Website administration management
- Co-Organizing Thematic Seminars
- Content Development, etc
25COMSATS ROLE in IIN
- Technical in Nature as well as Coordination
- Our Strength remained to be our strong grip on
Information Technology - Internet Service Provider (ISP)
- IT University (Education Training)
- Software Development Unit
After the Successful Implementation of IIN Portal
it was handed over to Ministry of Industries,
Govt. of Pakistan
26Launching of IIN in Pakistan
- Industrial Information Network (IIN) initiated
in 2001, formally launched in May 2002 - Inaugurated by D.G UNIDO, Vienna
27Snapshots of latest website by SMEDA
28COMSATS Proposed Collaboration With INSME (PDU)
- COMSATS would like to Join Forces with INSME as
its Partner for National /Regional Development - Common areas of activities may be co-organizing
of thematic training programs/ seminars - The prospective of collaboration are very bright
between COMSATS INSME - The step wise collaboration is expected to be
more fruitful and productive
29Proposed Future Activities
As taken from INSME questionnaire
30Proposed Themes
As taken from INSME questionnaire
31Roadmap / Frame of work
- COMSATS in collaboration with INSME intends to
initially launch its programs in a few of its
member countries (like Bangladesh, Jordan,
Tunisia or China) - COMSATS would follow the same strategic approach
it had pursued in Pakistan, i-e., to identify the
informational, organizational, policy and
regulatory needs of SMEs in a country, identify
clusters and map them, identify key players in a
state machinery and private parties and involve
them, and finally to undertake innovative means
for networking the SMEs (e-portal, B2B and B2C
virtual resources).
32 Roadmap / Frame of work
- Conduct exploratory workshops and seminars
- Mobilize national chambers of commerce and trade
associations and the SMEs.
33Thank You!